2018 Off-Season Thread

[JazzMan]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

I think it really depends on the contract and the pieces around him. I've been way down on him since before he was even drafted, his offensive game isn't polished at all and he's often too out of control to make a focal point of your team. That said, I thought he was pretty great this year in that 6th man role because of how hard he comes in and plays, the energy he plays, and you get a guy who's a modern small ball 5 who can run the floor on the break just as well as your guards and wing men do. As the pace keeps climbing and lineups keep shrinking that's a valuable asset to have.

How much of that is due to his contract year is a fair question, because most games I watched he was working harder than any other player on the floor for either team. So that's a big question mark since you kinda expected that effort to be there day one and it wasn't. He closed out the season going basically 20 and 10 every night, had games were he was up around 30 and 15 as well, he could very well be chasing that money.

It's easy to say just "find Reggie Evans", but he's never going to get you 20 and 10 consistently like that. Looking at someone like Tristan Thompson who at times can barely even catch a pass without bobbling it, and Randle who has one of the best face and go games in the league and finishes well at the rim, even if it is all left handed. He has no jumper, but I do think defensively he can come along.

The Evans part was just me exaggerating.

Real question; would you rather have Randle at $16M per or Favors at $12M?

I just don't think Randle contributes to a winning style of ball. Heard someone say he was the best player for the Lakers last year, when really all he did was turn it on in the second half of the season when the playoffs were long out of their reach.

I'm very skeptical.

[ojandpizza]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

The Evans part was just me exaggerating.

Real question; would you rather have Randle at $16M per or Favors at $12M?

I just don't think Randle contributes to a winning style of ball. Heard someone say he was the best player for the Lakers last year, when really all he did was turn it on in the second half of the season when the playoffs were long out of their reach.

I'm very skeptical.

Fair question, I'm not sure. Favors has built good habits playing on a good team, but at 4 mil I'd probably still go with the guys who's younger, more explosive, and has more upside. Still, a lot of it depends on what is around them.

[Vni]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

Why do people seem pretty convinced Lebron is going to sign with the Lakers? What has happened recently? Is it because we almost know for sure he isn't signing with the cavs?

[Caveman24]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

I see people are enamored with Julius Randle again...

Played well in a contract year? Check.

Unclear position in today's league? Check.

Poor shooter? Check.

Poor defender? Check.

Why would someone give him $16M a year? He just doesn't fit with most teams. To be a big man in today's NBA IMO you need to be able to space the floor, protect the rim, or guard multiple positions - he does none of those things.

For that money you might as well find wherever Reggie Evans is at, give him a mill, and call it a day.

This has to be the most off base Randle take I've ever seen. We switch a lot & before Randle seen a huge spike in offense, he was killing it on the defensive end. Pull up when we played the Wizards & he was on an island with Wall & many other games.

Randle, also plays much better at the 5, his play & analytical data backs that up. 9/10 he's too fast for most 5s guarding him & he unlocks the ability to grab and go more as he shown last season.

[ojandpizza]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

Why do people seem pretty convinced Lebron is going to sign with the Lakers? What has happened recently? Is it because we almost know for sure he isn't signing with the cavs?

I won't be convinced LeBron, or anyone, is actually headed there until it happens. This happens literally every off-season and LeBron has been headed to the Lakers for about 8 years now.

That said, as mentioned before I do think all of it seems more likely this time around. Seems like it's a bit more than Broussard or Stephen A's sources leaking the news.

If PG goes, or a trade for Kawhi happens, I think the likelihood of LeBron following jumps pretty high. The fact that everyone has felt the need to drop the "this will be a family decision more so than a basketball decision" since back before all of this really even got started really narrowed it down to LA or CLE.

[23]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

Tyler Ulis waived by Phoenix

Lakers waive Thomas Bryant

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[ProfessaPackMan]

2018 Off-Season Thread

Yeah, I can’t go along with that Randle take. Might want to turn that down just a tad.

And asking if folks would want Randle or Favors depends on the years as well as the team. Randle at $16 Mil for say...2 years with the 2nd year a player option, I’ll take that easily for the reasons OJ and Caveman already mentioned. I’ll gladly take that in Brooklyn considering the type of team we are(Player Development or Bust).

Still has plenty of room to grow so he’s definitely worth a risk/shot.

For a team like the Wizards, Hornets, Mavs to name a few...Favors would be a better fit there than Randle.

But once Kawhi went down there wasn't a question.

Before that they were a 60 win team with room to grow.

Without him they definitely aren't among the elite teams no matter how well Pop coaches, they'll just be over achieving.

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Wouldn’t they still be a team with room to grow eve without him though? How does that change with him being gone?

[ojandpizza]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

This has to be the most off base Randle take I've ever seen. We switch a lot & before Randle seen a huge spike in offense, he was killing it on the defensive end. Pull up when we played the Wizards & he was on an island with Wall & many other games.

Randle, also plays much better at the 5, his play & analytical data backs that up. 9/10 he's too fast for most 5s guarding him & he unlocks the ability to grab and go more as he shown last season.

He defended Lebron pretty well also. The more he learns to use his quickness to his advantage rather just jumping all over the place going 100 miles an hour the better he will keep getting at both ends.

Only thing is I really do like him as a 6th man, but you can't really pay him that much to keep him there. Best fit might be starting at the 5 and making sure your back up is a rim protector or rim runner so you have what Randle lacks and can always stick him at the 4 depending on the match-up.

Speaking on that, if the Deng contract dump situation to Atlanta is a legit move both sides are considering, if the money coming back wouldn't set them back too much for their future plans taking Dedmon back in that trade would be a good fit for them.

[Vni]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

I won't be convinced LeBron, or anyone, is actually headed there until it happens. This happens literally every off-season and LeBron has been headed to the Lakers for about 8 years now.

That said, as mentioned before I do think all of it seems more likely this time around. Seems like it's a bit more than Broussard or Stephen A's sources leaking the news.

If PG goes, or a trade for Kawhi happens, I think the likelihood of LeBron following jumps pretty high. The fact that everyone has felt the need to drop the "this will be a family decision more so than a basketball decision" since back before all of this really even got started really narrowed it down to LA or CLE.

Oh ok. I really thought something significant happened reading some people here and there.

[Vni]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

Tyler Ulis waived by Phoenix

Lakers waive Thomas Bryant

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Hmm, wierd. I thought they liked Bryant.

[ojandpizza]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

Oh ok. I really thought something significant happened reading some people here and there.

There is a rumor that Gilbert will be happy to see him go to "get his team back", but that was also started by Stephen A I believe. And now Sports Illustrated has reported that he won't even be meeting with the Cavs in person.

Everyone likes to take all the "reports" and run with them, which is why we see this every year. Just seems like this year there are a lot more of them rather than just one thing getting overblown. It's almost like it's something right after the other, and Magic being there this time around I think a lot of people feel that could actually play a role for Bron.

[ojandpizza]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

Tyler Ulis waived by Phoenix

Odd move to me.

He's too small to ever be a great player or anything like that, but I actually liked what I saw from him this year. Makes me wonder if Phoenix is about to make a move for a point guard.

[TMagic]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

Y'all really playing my boys now man.

We got a Reggie Evans to Julius Randle hot take. The disrespect is real. Smh

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[jfsolo]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

Hmm, wierd. I thought they liked Bryant.

I thought that we would choose Bryant over Zubac if either one of them were going to be kept. It's possible that they feel like Wagner is a better version of Bryant.

[Vni]

Re: 2018 Off-Season Thread

Lakers would've been a really soft team without JR last season. He's made great improvements every year (playmaking, conditioning, defense). Although at some point he's going to have to develop a jumper if he wants to start for a contender.