AROUND THE NBA DECEMBER TO REMEMBER EDITION

[illmatic99]

Lots of talk on Lakers social about AD for Simmons trades. lol these are the worst fans in the NBA.

Ya how about you re-route Davis here????

 

[Minstrel]

Lots of talk on Lakers social about AD for Simmons trades. lol these are the worst fans in the NBA.

Ya how about you re-route Davis here????

There's two strains of crazy in the Lakers fanbase--the AD scapegoaters that you're highlighting and the ones saying, "Trade Westbrook for Simmons/Beal/other star" as if Westbrook is a desireable player and great trade chip. Especially back to Washington...

 

[THE HCP]

 

[B-Roy]

 

[BlazerBeav]

Yikes, that stat is crazy HCP! I'd realized his three-point shooting is terrible and he's the only one who doesn't know it - but how do we explain the drop off on defense?

 

[Minstrel]

Yikes, that stat is crazy HCP! I'd realized his three-point shooting is terrible and he's the only one who doesn't know it - but how do we explain the drop off on defense?

My first attempt at a guess would be that he has the worst perimeter/point of attack defenders of his career in front of him, so he's cleaning up messes from the least advantageous positions this year.

It could also be that he's working harder than ever to keep the offense and defense afloat, especially with all the time that James has been out, so his defensive quality has suffered.

 

[tester551]

I know Dec 15th is quickly approaching and they indicated that they would wait until more players became available to trade... so it may just be a timing thing.

However, the only other notable change in recent days is Trader Joe is now in charge of Portland. Hopefully he is in the trenches trying to facilitate a trade.

I still think this 3 way would be really good for all teams:

Brooklyn: Kyrie -> CJ
Irving is out and not playing. Here they get production out of the $30M+ that they are spending. CJ would look phenomenal next to Harden & Durant. Additionally, they'll save ~$20M in tax this year alone!

Philly: Ben -> Kyrie
Kyrie could at least play for the 76ers. Again, they get production out of the $30M+ that they are currently spending. Morey gets his all-star. Kyrie + Embiid would be a great combo.

Portland: CJ -> Ben
Portland gets a lot of value in this trade by helping facilitate this transaction.

 

[Minstrel]

I still think this 3 way would be really good for all teams:

Brooklyn: Kyrie -> CJ
Irving is out and not playing. Here they get production out of the $30M+ that they are spending. CJ would look phenomenal next to Harden & Durant. Additionally, they'll save ~$20M in tax this year alone!

Philly: Ben -> Kyrie
Kyrie could at least play for the 76ers. Again, they get production out of the $30M+ that they are currently spending. Morey gets his all-star. Kyrie + Embiid would be a great combo.

Portland: CJ -> Ben
Portland gets a lot of value in this trade by helping facilitate this transaction.

I still think Brooklyn would just keep Simmons and Portland wouldn't be involved if Brooklyn decided to move on from Irving and Philadelphia was willing to take Irving (both of which I think are plausible).

 

[DDolla]

I agree with Shaq. Warriors this year are really fun to watch. Lakers like the Blazers are just boring.

 

[tester551]

I still think Brooklyn would just keep Simmons and Portland wouldn't be involved if Brooklyn decided to move on from Irving and Philadelphia was willing to take Irving (both of which I think are plausible).

Ben on Nets would take the ball out of Harden & Durant's hands too much. The fit with him on that team is really clunky.

Which is why I think they might actually prefer someone like CJ as a 3rd scorer and a court spacer.

 

[THE HCP]

Yikes, that stat is crazy HCP! I'd realized his three-point shooting is terrible and he's the only one who doesn't know it - but how do we explain the drop off on defense?

Makes no sense to me. Maybe he’s floating? Maybe Vogel is telling him to take it easy and doesn’t want him going down with injury. Maybe Coach will take THIS AD over NO AD?

 

[Minstrel]

Ben on Nets would take the ball out of Harden & Durant's hands too much. The fit with him on that team is really clunky.

Which is why I think they might actually prefer someone like CJ as a 3rd scorer and a court spacer.

CJ wants the ball in his hands too. The difference is that CJ wants a ton of shots, whereas Simmons isn't focused on number of shots. Well, the other massive difference is that Simmons is an incredible and versatile defender, which would be a huge help to the Nets, while CJ is a huge liability on that end. Not to mention Simmons is a far better passer who would also juice their transition game. I don't think the Nets need spacing--they already have a CJ-like player in Patty Mills, Joe Harris when he returns is another shooter and obviously both Durant and Harden can shoot. IMO, Simmons' skill set is a much better complement to Harden and Durant than McCollum.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I know Dec 15th is quickly approaching and they indicated that they would wait until more players became available to trade... so it may just be a timing thing.

However, the only other notable change in recent days is Trader Joe is now in charge of Portland. Hopefully he is in the trenches trying to facilitate a trade.

I still think this 3 way would be really good for all teams:

Brooklyn: Kyrie -> CJ
Irving is out and not playing. Here they get production out of the $30M+ that they are spending. CJ would look phenomenal next to Harden & Durant. Additionally, they'll save ~$20M in tax this year alone!

Philly: Ben -> Kyrie
Kyrie could at least play for the 76ers. Again, they get production out of the $30M+ that they are currently spending. Morey gets his all-star. Kyrie + Embiid would be a great combo.

Portland: CJ -> Ben
Portland gets a lot of value in this trade by helping facilitate this transaction.

I like the idea of Brooklyn adding CJ. They're one of the few teams that I think could have a genuine interest. But I don't think they're going to unload Kyrie. It's a delicate situation: I doubt if they would've got KD if it hadn't been for him and Kyrie making a pact together. If they did, I think Simmons is too much for him just because you never know with Kyrie if he'll ever play (or if he does, if he's like Kyrie on the Celtics). But if the Sixers WOULD give up Simmons for Kyrie, then, as Minstrel says, why wouldn't the Nets keep Simmons? They'd be the Warriors East, and he'd be their Draymond. (Not sure he'd WANT to be Draymond, but at this point he has no leverage.)

I was trying to work out a CJ for Joe Harris trade, but he doesn't earn enough and they don't really have anyone to bundle with him.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

In Lakers' big loss to Memphis, guess which two (playing on different units) had worst plus/minuses? Could it have been Westbrook and Melo?

You and your bs advanced statistics...

 

[Minstrel]

Congratulations, @THE HCP ! Your guys finally beat their toughest opponent, the Oklahoma City Thunder. No sweep of the Lakers this year, the Lakers have a little too much talent and pride for that.

Also:

 

[Cugel]

Russ always trying to get fan participation. I tip my hat to him. The maestro.

 

[noknobs]

Good, ever since Boston acted like assholes they've lost 3 in a row.

 

[DDolla]

I wonder what CJ feels with all this trade talks. He sure is the person we are trading.

 

[Cugel]

Why dismiss Harris out right? He’s likely a better fit than CJ. I would guess Portland wants something else.

cj has reiterated he gets his on the 1st and 15th. I wouldn’t worry about him. Probably one of the smartest and most stable guys around

 

[Strenuus]

I wonder what CJ feels with all this trade talks. He sure is the person we are trading.

CJ knows. He of all people knows it's a business ( I mean, even though not totally connected, he did take over for Chris Paul as the president of the NBAP, if im not mistaken).

 

[DDolla]

Look at that, Lakers never stop acquiring players. They are always open to improve their team. Hope Blazers do the same thing. Never satisfied

 

[B-Roy]

Look at that, Lakers never stop acquiring players. They are always open to improve their team. Hope Blazers do the same thing. Never satisfied

Lakers have literally no matching salary for someone making 18 million. It's actually impossible. And they can only trade a 2027 or 2028 1st. They have no avenues to improve their team.

 

[Strenuus]

Look at that, Lakers never stop acquiring players. They are always open to improve their team. Hope Blazers do the same thing. Never satisfied

It's literally "just talks"

Watch office space and stop jumping to conclusions.

 

[THE HCP]

Lakers have literally no matching salary for someone making 18 million. It's actually impossible. And they can only trade a 2027 or 2028 1st. They have no avenues to improve their team.

You keep telling yourself that FAMS!

 

[wizenheimer]

I'm pretty sure he's been told to lose weight, over and over, but it looks like he can't or won't. I'm skeptical he'll have a long career

 

[Minstrel]

Look at that, Lakers never stop acquiring players. They are always open to improve their team. Hope Blazers do the same thing. Never satisfied

If "wanting a player they can't get" is the same as "acquiring a player," the Trail Blazers never stop acquiring players either.

 

[Minstrel]

You keep telling yourself that FAMS!

So which players do you think the Lakers can and will get to improve themselves?

I mean, obviously Westbrook is a Hall of Fame superstar who could bring back anyone in the league, but you don't trade those guys, right?

 

[Strenuus]

View attachment 42841

I'm pretty sure he's been told to lose weight, over and over, but it looks like he can't or won't. I'm skeptical he'll have a long career

It's sad because I don't remember a dude quite as hyped as him literally show next to nothing. He had like 45 minutes of flash in a 2 game span that I can remember.

Greg Oden doesn't count, I don't remember him being as hyped as zion was. Good lord it was nauseating with zion. And everyone saw his red flags too lol.

 

[SlyPokerCat]

It's sad because I don't remember a dude quite as hyped as him literally show next to nothing. He had like 45 minutes of flash in a 2 game span that I can remember.

Greg Oden doesn't count, I don't remember him being as hyped as zion was. Good lord it was nauseating with zion. And everyone saw his red flags too lol.

Idk. I remember Oden being extremely hyped. Especially in the NCAA championship game. Everyone called him a championship winner and the next Bill Russell. Can't get much higher praise and love than that.

 

[Strenuus]

Idk. I remember Oden being extremely hyped. Especially in the NCAA championship game. Everyone called him a championship winner and the next Bill Russell. Can't get much higher praise and love than that.

Perhaps I just remember different. It was right as I was -fully- getting into the Blazers so I could be wrong on level of hype... I just feel zion was viewed as at or above the level of greg as I remember them both.