Cartman718 wrote:Harden - 56 points, 13 assists, 7 of 8 from beyond the arc.
OKC must feel so stupid for letting him go. He used to score efficiently for them as well. They should have kept him. Can you imagine that team now with what Russ, Harden, KD...what it would have turned into?

Welpee wrote:

Cartman718 wrote:Harden - 56 points, 13 assists, 7 of 8 from beyond the arc.
OKC must feel so stupid for letting him go. He used to score efficiently for them as well. They should have kept him. Can you imagine that team now with what Russ, Harden, KD...what it would have turned into?

Harden would've never been Harden now if he had stayed in OKC. Likely he would've left via free agency anyway to have space to become the player he is now.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2031893-james-harden-admits-money-was-deciding-factor-in-leaving-okc-thunder

TripleThreat wrote:

Cartman718 wrote:Deng seeking a trade. We need a good wing is he still serviceable?

Lakers will first try to clear his salary off the books by way of moving a positive asset with him, in order to try to clear space to sign Paul George and LBJ together. Or LBJ and Cousins.

IF and it's a big if, the Lakers can't move his contract that way, and Cousins goes elsewhere, and Brook Lopez goes elsewhere, this is a rare chance for a "Challenge Trade" i.e. my bloated problem contract for your bloated problem contract. In this specific scenario, Noah and smaller bits for Deng and smaller bits might work. Knicks need to clear the logjam at the pivot. Lakers will need rim protection and are OK at the wing. But rim protection isn't as scarce as it used to be, it would take some pretty heavy circumstances for the Lakers to get to that point ( i.e. desperation) to move Deng for Noah. An overpaid wing who can sort of defend is still worth more, positional value wise, than an overpaid pivot who can sort of defend the rim sometimes.

Some of it will boil down to Lonzo Ball. If LBJ and Paul George show up, I think LBJ demands the Lakers trade Ball. In the same vein as he wanted Wiggins gone. If the Lakers move Ball, that's enough in a package to probably flush Deng off their roster.

Once LBJ walks onto a team, he runs the front office and he's an idiot. So when people here suggest insane trades, at least suggest them with the Lakers, because LBJ is clearly stupid enough to self inflict long term damage to a roster with non market based decision or trade.

if he is serviceable on offense (and we already know he plays defense), it would be worth a shot.

TripleThreat wrote:

Cartman718 wrote:Deng seeking a trade. We need a good wing is he still serviceable?

Lakers will first try to clear his salary off the books by way of moving a positive asset with him, in order to try to clear space to sign Paul George and LBJ together. Or LBJ and Cousins.

IF and it's a big if, the Lakers can't move his contract that way, and Cousins goes elsewhere, and Brook Lopez goes elsewhere, this is a rare chance for a "Challenge Trade" i.e. my bloated problem contract for your bloated problem contract. In this specific scenario, Noah and smaller bits for Deng and smaller bits might work. Knicks need to clear the logjam at the pivot. Lakers will need rim protection and are OK at the wing. But rim protection isn't as scarce as it used to be, it would take some pretty heavy circumstances for the Lakers to get to that point ( i.e. desperation) to move Deng for Noah. An overpaid wing who can sort of defend is still worth more, positional value wise, than an overpaid pivot who can sort of defend the rim sometimes.

Some of it will boil down to Lonzo Ball. If LBJ and Paul George show up, I think LBJ demands the Lakers trade Ball. In the same vein as he wanted Wiggins gone. If the Lakers move Ball, that's enough in a package to probably flush Deng off their roster.

Once LBJ walks onto a team, he runs the front office and he's an idiot. So when people here suggest insane trades, at least suggest them with the Lakers, because LBJ is clearly stupid enough to self inflict long term damage to a roster with non market based decision or trade.

I can understand a tandem of LBJ and Cousins but what does a team of LBJ and PG get you? Trying to understand how those guys with Ball and Ingram will either team up or be able to trade to get a team that would be competitive in playoffs.

BigDaddyG wrote:

Welpee wrote:

Cartman718 wrote:Harden - 56 points, 13 assists, 7 of 8 from beyond the arc.
OKC must feel so stupid for letting him go. He used to score efficiently for them as well. They should have kept him. Can you imagine that team now with what Russ, Harden, KD...what it would have turned into?

Harden would've never been Harden now if he had stayed in OKC. Likely he would've left via free agency anyway to have space to become the player he is now.

Harden's camp was trying to work a deal. It was OKC who decided to go with Ibaka.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2031893-james-harden-admits-money-was-deciding-factor-in-leaving-okc-thunder

Lonzo often gets barely gets off the ground. Makes it real easy to stuff him, bother him. Has no real hang time as well when he is at full elevation to shoot (not about dunking). Being able to hang in the air lets you absorb contact, then shoot. Or elevate over a defender.

Once Ball is in NBA shape, he's going to be dangerous IMO. Unless this impacts his confidence.

GustavBahler wrote:Stephen A Smith brought up the B word (Bust) in reference to Lonzo Ball. His God awful shooting mechanics aside. What's really holding Ball back IMO is his lack of elevation when he's driving, shooting. Never mind the under the rim dunk.

Lonzo often gets barely gets off the ground. Makes it real easy to stuff him, bother him. Has no real hang time as well when he is at full elevation to shoot (not about dunking). Being able to hang in the air lets you absorb contact, then shoot. Or elevate over a defender.

Once Ball is in NBA shape, he's going to be dangerous IMO. Unless this impacts his confidence.

TripleThreat wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:Stephen A Smith brought up the B word (Bust) in reference to Lonzo Ball.

In some ways, you have to feel for the guy. His dad's antics paints a target on his back. LBJ won't play with a high profile rookie. He just won't, his ego can't handle the Old Man/Young Jedi storyline. Now the media, based on Nike's push, have to hatchet Ball the entire season, to justify a trade on the offseason.

Sort of hope he ends up a Raptor or a Grizzlie or a Hawk. Go to a "Siberia" situation, so he can just focus on working on his game and being the best player possible without all the hoopla and fanfare.

I agree, thats just what his Dad did. Players told Ball as much. Also agree about LeBron playing with a high profile rookie. Always felt it was why Wiggins was traded. Hard to argue with the results though. I dont believe Ball is that far off. I believe better conditioning will take care of a lot of his problems. Wont help his shot mechanics though.

GustavBahler wrote:

TripleThreat wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:Stephen A Smith brought up the B word (Bust) in reference to Lonzo Ball.

In some ways, you have to feel for the guy. His dad's antics paints a target on his back. LBJ won't play with a high profile rookie. He just won't, his ego can't handle the Old Man/Young Jedi storyline. Now the media, based on Nike's push, have to hatchet Ball the entire season, to justify a trade on the offseason.

Sort of hope he ends up a Raptor or a Grizzlie or a Hawk. Go to a "Siberia" situation, so he can just focus on working on his game and being the best player possible without all the hoopla and fanfare.

I agree, thats just what his Dad did. Players told Ball as much. Also agree about LeBron playing with a high profile rookie. Always felt it was why Wiggins was traded. Hard to argue with the results though. I dont believe Ball is that far off. I believe better conditioning will take care of a lot of his problems. Wont help his shot mechanics though.

That's why I never bought the kid comparisons. Kid was a much better athlete and was much stronger as a rookie. I think Lonzo will be good, but not a superstar. He'll need to develop a floater because his J will become useless in half court unless he's wide open. He'll have to work this off-season and take a break from the reality TV show.