2018 Off-Season Thread

[Gilley]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

So I don't follow the Spurs much but what exactly caused Kawhi to suddenly lose his mind? He seemed like a quiet guy who just got the job done and loves to play the game. Now he's acting like a fool and he does himself no favors here.

Most people are under the impression that he's being misguided by his uncle.

[SPTO]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

Nah, what you are asking isn't going to happen. Call it a hot take if you want, but this trade will haunt Toronto I think. Big mistake.

I'm starting to lean on your side here especially if Kawhi doesn't play or he pulls the same act he did in SA last season. On paper this was the kind of move Masai needed to make to really shake things up and make the best possible run for at least a Finals appearance but he was focused on the WRONG player it seems. Kawhi has made himself to be a real miscontent and a baby. Some superstars can get over that but I think Kawhi, who can't take on the conflict of the media being on his back will make himself Public Enemy #1 in this city.

I remember when Vince Carter was dogging it and the media AND fans were crucifying him every night. There's no way Kawhi with his fragile ego can take that kind of beating and then go to LA? HAH! They won't treat him with kid gloves either.

[ggsimmonds]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

The reports were SA was originally asking for Kuzma, Ingram, Hart, and picks. That's why the Lakers said lol no thx.

I get you think Ingram is trash but they aren't gonna trade him. Why trade Ingram when you can have Ingram AND Kawhi next year? I get the LeBron is aging argument but LA seems pretty content to roll with their current squad for now. At the end of the day though, this is a LeBron team, and midseason changes are not unheard of. But there's no need to try and trade for Kawhi right now. Trade deadline at the earliest and only if the offer is right.

But Paul George!

Seriously though, I think this is the best outcome for the Lakers.

I know it was fool's hope, but I was really hoping Washington could've worked a deal where the centerpiece was sending Otto Porter to SA lol

[ojandpizza]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

The reports were SA was originally asking for Kuzma, Ingram, Hart, and picks. That's why the Lakers said lol no thx.

I get you think Ingram is trash but they aren't gonna trade him. Why trade Ingram when you can have Ingram AND Kawhi next year? I get the LeBron is aging argument but LA seems pretty content to roll with their current squad for now. At the end of the day though, this is a LeBron team, and midseason changes are not unheard of. But there's no need to try and trade for Kawhi right now. Trade deadline at the earliest and only if the offer is right.

Because Ingram/Kuzma are the only players on the team you can package Deng's contract with to get him off the salary. They have room for a max slot with Deng, so moving him + Ingram just adds potential room for another. Kuzma fits better off ball from Bron/Kawhi, and if they got Kawhi, retained Lance or KCP, you'll have LeBron, Kawhi, Ingram who are all small forwards, with Kuzma, KCP, Lance, Hart who all play SF as their secondary position. Meanging that Kuzma better fits their needs and his contract is cheaper for longer.

If they moved Ingram for Kawhi, just using this example as a hypothetical, what happens if that gives them room to sign Klay? Wouldn't you rather have Klay and Kawhi as soon as next year rather than still waiting on Ingram while LeBron is hitting 34, 35 ,36 years old? Like I said Klay is a hypothetical, I doubt he would leave GS, but a player like him is what they could be lined up to snag.

Edit: plus trading for him rather than signing him gives them his bird rights, which they are going to need to add pieces to this thing going forward.

[Smallville102001]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

Not sure how people think Ingram is trash he has only played 2 years and is only going to be 21 in September and showed great improvement from year 1 to year 2. He may be a 20 point guy this year. If Lakers get KL next year to go with James and keep Ingram and Kuzma I think they can be a real contender during the 2019-2020 year. Both Kuzma and Ingram are young and can play. If lakers would have gotten KL now but made that trade losing Kuzma and Ingram and 2 first round picks yeah you would have like 2 of the top 5 best players on the same team and all but you would have like nothing out side of that and losing 2 first round picks would also make it a little harder to get more peaces to go with KY and James. Getting rid of Kuzma and Ingram but getting KL I am not even sure how much better they would be than they are right now. About KL there are so many reports and its so odd that I dont know what to think. He needs to not be a baby and just wait another year and than go to the lakers. I mean all he is doing is making him self look bad and if he goes to the lakers right now they would have to give up peaces compared to if he waited un till next year. So does he not care about winning either?

[ggsimmonds]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

I'm starting to lean on your side here especially if Kawhi doesn't play or he pulls the same act he did in SA last season. On paper this was the kind of move Masai needed to make to really shake things up and make the best possible run for at least a Finals appearance but he was focused on the WRONG player it seems. Kawhi has made himself to be a real miscontent and a baby. Some superstars can get over that but I think Kawhi, who can't take on the conflict of the media being on his back will make himself Public Enemy #1 in this city.

I remember when Vince Carter was dogging it and the media AND fans were crucifying him every night. There's no way Kawhi with his fragile ego can take that kind of beating and then go to LA? HAH! They won't treat him with kid gloves either.

Not only LA, but the pressure that comes with playing alongside LeBron.

Right now I think its a horrible move, but who knows what happens once Kawhi gets on the court. Maybe his uncle's passport gets "lost" and Kawhi enjoys playing there, because if he does extend with Toronto, it changes my opinion of the trade 100%. I just think that is unlikely.

[jeremym480]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

But nobody said DeRozan was a better offensive player.

You literally just said this morning that DeRozan is just as good offensively if not better.

I just really struggle to see where Toronto gets much better from this, I don't think this is a huge upgrade. Kawhi is the better player, better defender, he has a better outside shot, but are we ignoring that DeRozan offensively has been nearly just as good, if not as good/better? Kawhi has hit 20ppg in two seasons, DeRozan has done it for 5 consecutive years now and 17+ in 8 straight seasons, where Kawhi is still only at 2 that are 17+... He's one of the most consistent scorers in the league, and he's arguably better with the ball in his hands and just as good if not better of a play-maker... We poke fun at DeRozan come playoff time and chalk him up as a not so good player, but even his playoff scoring is among the best in the league.. IDK I don't think he is getting his due here.

Even the trade machine (I know so accurate) says that Toronto's win percentage isn't effected by this trade.. IDK I just don't see why they made this move unless they honestly believe they can get him to stay.

[Smallville102001]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

Because Ingram/Kuzma are the only players on the team you can package Deng's contract with to get him off the salary. They have room for a max slot with Deng, so moving him + Ingram just adds potential room for another. Kuzma fits better off ball from Bron/Kawhi, and if they got Kawhi, retained Lance or KCP, you'll have LeBron, Kawhi, Ingram who are all small forwards, with Kuzma, KCP, Lance, Hart who all play SF as their secondary position. Meanging that Kuzma better fits their needs and his contract is cheaper for longer.

If they moved Ingram for Kawhi, just using this example as a hypothetical, what happens if that gives them room to sign Klay? Wouldn't you rather have Klay and Kawhi as soon as next year rather than still waiting on Ingram while LeBron is hitting 34, 35 ,36 years old? Like I said Klay is a hypothetical, I doubt he would leave GS, but a player like him is what they could be lined up to snag.

I dont see Klay leaving GS at all and Ingram is already pretty good and for the Lakers to get KL they where most likely going to have to give up both Ingram and Kuzma not just one of them and again Kuzma and Ingram are both already pretty good already and most likely they are just going to get even better. They just need to let there young guys develop now. They already lost Randle a good young player they dont need to keep losing more young guys. They just need to stay patient with there young guys. Remember years ago when there was talk about GS trading Klay and they didn't? The first year they won the championship I dont think any body saw that comming that year but Curry, Klay and Green all improved a lot that same seasons. I think most people saw GS has like a 4th-5th seed and losing in the first or 2nd round not being a champion team.

[ojandpizza]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

I dont see Klay leaving GS at all

Totally ignored the end of my post lol

[23]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

So I don't follow the Spurs much but what exactly caused Kawhi to suddenly lose his mind? He seemed like a quiet guy who just got the job done and loves to play the game. Now he's acting like a fool and he does himself no favors here.

Toronto isn't the worst place in the world to play. Hell, PJ Carlesimo (sp) was on the radio here last night and talked up how great the culture is here (he was an assistant for a year) and how he was disappointed when he was let go. He basically feels like Kawhi would thrive in this environment and would be a key piece on a legit squad.

Nobody knows whats really up because the Spurs don't talk and Kawhi doesn't talk so the narrative out there was family, money, faking hurt.... all of which was denied by Pop

So just sit back and watch everything play out.

[Smallville102001]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

About Raptors I would say with getting KL they are a little bit better. Both players are good but KL is better but not way better but the Raptors I think needed to break up there team. They have so much talent the last 2 years yet got sweept out of the playoffs. If that team couldn't get to the finals they where never going to get there. With that talent to go out like that a lot of it is mental. Celtics are the clear favorites in the east this year.

[Smallville102001]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

Totally ignored the end of my post lol

No I did see that I just dont agree with like any of that post lol.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

But Paul George!



Seriously though, I think this is the best outcome for the Lakers.



I know it was fool's hope, but I was really hoping Washington could've worked a deal where the centerpiece was sending Otto Porter to SA lol

Lol fools hope indeed.

[ojandpizza]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

You literally just said this morning that DeRozan is just as good offensively if not better.

In terms of consecutive years yes. Kawhi at his best topped out as a more efficient scorer, but he also had a larger portion of better looks coming his way with the roles they were in.

[ojandpizza]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

It's just really hard for me to imagine that the better chunk of all this Kawhi stuff is just BS. Reporters make up and leak fake **** from fake sources all the time, but I don't remember many, if any, situations where so much has been said about a player of this magnitude.