NBA Season 2021-22

[celticsclay]

Magic kind of threw Lebron under the bus here (also whoever had their pitch forks out for Pelinka and trying to absolve Lebron of blame yikes)

During an appearance on ESPN's Get Up, Magic Johnson talked about how he tried to facilitate a sign-and-trade for DeMar DeRozan to end up with the Los Angeles Lakers. Johnson blames LeBron James for the decision that resulted in the Lakers instead trading Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as part of a package for Russell Westbrook while also letting go of Alex Caruso.

In Johnson's scenario, the Lakers would have acquired DeRozan while also trading for Buddy Hield. It is unclear what the Lakers would have had to send to the San Antonio Spurs for DeRozan, which would have also subjected them to the hard cap.

“The blame that he’s got to take is the fact that DeRozan ended up in Chicago and not with the Lakers," said Johnson. "DeRozan wanted to play for the Lakers and when I got the call from his agent, I called the Lakers, said, ‘Hey, he wants to come home.'"

"We could’ve made that deal. But when Russell and LeBron started talking, that’s when they nixed that deal and went with Westbrook."

 

Too bad for Magic, this is LeBron's team right now. And once LeBron is gone, they'll be left in a dumpster fire.

This is the first time I started thinking this may be Lebrons last season as a Laker. Magic, for all his flaws as a gm/executive, is a Lakers institution and beloved by basically everyone involved. I think there is probably at least a portion of fans that were not jazzed but lebrons stat chasing no defense season (and roll in the disastrous roster that has occurred). Will he be traded? 

[Moranis]

The Lakers couldn't have acquired DeRozan and Hield.  They didn't have the salary components to do both and would have been hard capped with DeRozan (so couldn't have done a sign and trade of their own player for Hield as that was too much salary).  Probably would have had to let THT go (which I know isn't a huge deal, but he is a young guy on a reasonable enough contract).  Lakers obviously should have given DeRozan the 3rd year and acquired him, but even pivoting off of that, they had so many much better options to fill out the roster instead of the old crappy team they put together.

[celticsclay]

The Lakers couldn't have acquired DeRozan and Hield.  They didn't have the salary components to do both and would have been hard capped with DeRozan (so couldn't have done a sign and trade of their own player for Hield as that was too much salary).  Probably would have had to let THT go (which I know isn't a huge deal, but he is a young guy on a reasonable enough contract).  Lakers obviously should have given DeRozan the 3rd year and acquired him, but even pivoting off of that, they had so many much better options to fill out the roster instead of the old crappy team they put together.

Edit I don’t to get into a big hypothetical debate guys being stretched, waived and exceptions.

[pokeKingCurtis]

Magic kind of threw Lebron under the bus here (also whoever had their pitch forks out for Pelinka and trying to absolve Lebron of blame yikes)

During an appearance on ESPN's Get Up, Magic Johnson talked about how he tried to facilitate a sign-and-trade for DeMar DeRozan to end up with the Los Angeles Lakers. Johnson blames LeBron James for the decision that resulted in the Lakers instead trading Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as part of a package for Russell Westbrook while also letting go of Alex Caruso.

In Johnson's scenario, the Lakers would have acquired DeRozan while also trading for Buddy Hield. It is unclear what the Lakers would have had to send to the San Antonio Spurs for DeRozan, which would have also subjected them to the hard cap.

“The blame that he’s got to take is the fact that DeRozan ended up in Chicago and not with the Lakers," said Johnson. "DeRozan wanted to play for the Lakers and when I got the call from his agent, I called the Lakers, said, ‘Hey, he wants to come home.'"

"We could’ve made that deal. But when Russell and LeBron started talking, that’s when they nixed that deal and went with Westbrook."

 

Too bad for Magic, this is LeBron's team right now. And once LeBron is gone, they'll be left in a dumpster fire.

This is the first time I started thinking this may be Lebrons last season as a Laker. Magic, for all his flaws as a gm/executive, is a Lakers institution and beloved by basically everyone involved. I think there is probably at least a portion of fans that were not jazzed but lebrons stat chasing no defense season (and roll in the disastrous roster that has occurred). Will he be traded?

Interesting how good players such bad GMs

Lebron is as untalented a GM as he is talented as a player

[Kernewek]

Not to act like some kind of James apologist, but nothing Magic is saying is, y’know, particularly feasible. Like Moranis and the original quote suggest, it’s not very straightforward to get Hield and DeRozan.

All we know for sure is Magic made a couple of phone calls.

[tazzmaniac]

Not to act like some kind of James apologist, but nothing Magic is saying is, y’know, particularly feasible. Like Moranis and the original quote suggest, it’s not very straightforward to get Hield and DeRozan.

All we know for sure is Magic made a couple of phone calls.

Even if it could have somehow been worked, DeRozan and Hield would have been better than Westbrook but it still isn't a championship caliber team.  Still be terrible defense.  Lebron and DeRozen aren't a good fit. 

[Roy H.]

Magic kind of threw Lebron under the bus here (also whoever had their pitch forks out for Pelinka and trying to absolve Lebron of blame yikes)

During an appearance on ESPN's Get Up, Magic Johnson talked about how he tried to facilitate a sign-and-trade for DeMar DeRozan to end up with the Los Angeles Lakers. Johnson blames LeBron James for the decision that resulted in the Lakers instead trading Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as part of a package for Russell Westbrook while also letting go of Alex Caruso.

In Johnson's scenario, the Lakers would have acquired DeRozan while also trading for Buddy Hield. It is unclear what the Lakers would have had to send to the San Antonio Spurs for DeRozan, which would have also subjected them to the hard cap.

“The blame that he’s got to take is the fact that DeRozan ended up in Chicago and not with the Lakers," said Johnson. "DeRozan wanted to play for the Lakers and when I got the call from his agent, I called the Lakers, said, ‘Hey, he wants to come home.'"

"We could’ve made that deal. But when Russell and LeBron started talking, that’s when they nixed that deal and went with Westbrook."

 

Too bad for Magic, this is LeBron's team right now. And once LeBron is gone, they'll be left in a dumpster fire.

This is the first time I started thinking this may be Lebrons last season as a Laker. Magic, for all his flaws as a gm/executive, is a Lakers institution and beloved by basically everyone involved. I think there is probably at least a portion of fans that were not jazzed but lebrons stat chasing no defense season (and roll in the disastrous roster that has occurred). Will he be traded?

It's interesting to me that Lebron has received criticism from all of Magic, Kareem and Shaq this season.  Very little of it is for his on the court play.

[Donoghus]

Great slate of games tonight.

- Hawks/Raptors
- Bucks/Bulls
- Spurs/Nuggets
- Sixers/Pacers
- Grizzlies/Jazz
- Lakers/Suns

[smokeablount]

Great slate of games tonight.

- Hawks/Raptors
- Bucks/Bulls
- Spurs/Nuggets
- Sixers/Pacers
- Grizzlies/Jazz
- Lakers/Suns

Go Hawks, Bulls, Nuggets, Pacers, Grizzlies and Suns!

[Atzar]

You know, I don't like to admit this but this whole Laker clown show actually kinda makes me envious, in a way.  The Lakers have been a circus of baboons flinging poo for a decade now.  Just blunder after blunder.  Yet they still backed into a championship during that time because Lebron wanted to come to Hollywood.  Every franchise in the NBA needs to be managed with a fair degree of competence (and a healthy pinch of luck) to win titles except the Lakers. 

If they were in any other city, I'm not sure they'd be better than the Kings over that timespan.

[angryguy77]

You know, I don't like to admit this but this whole Laker clown show actually kinda makes me envious, in a way.  The Lakers have been a circus of baboons flinging poo for a decade now.  Just blunder after blunder.  Yet they still backed into a championship during that time because Lebron wanted to come to Hollywood.  Every franchise in the NBA needs to be managed with a fair degree of competence (and a healthy pinch of luck) to win titles except the Lakers. 

If they were in any other city, I'm not sure they'd be better than the Kings over that timespan.

LA has a ton of titles that are not earned. They just attract talent based on their location and nothing more. Shaq doesn't move out west if they don't have Hollywood.  They are the only franchise that wins due to location rather than FO competence.

[umpacu]

Great slate of games tonight.

- Hawks/Raptors
- Bucks/Bulls
- Spurs/Nuggets
- Sixers/Pacers
- Grizzlies/Jazz
- Lakers/Suns

And also Hornets/Heat!

[SHAQATTACK]

Great slate of games tonight.

- Hawks/Raptors
- Bucks/Bulls
- Spurs/Nuggets
- Sixers/Pacers
- Grizzlies/Jazz
- Lakers/Suns

I guess I ll watch Chicago vs Mil.

[Donoghus]

Great slate of games tonight.

- Hawks/Raptors
- Bucks/Bulls
- Spurs/Nuggets
- Sixers/Pacers
- Grizzlies/Jazz
- Lakers/Suns

I guess I ll watch Chicago vs Mil.

Nice thing is that the Celtics will be getting the Bulls on the backside of a back to back.  Conversely, though, the Bucks will be getting the Celts on the backside.

[ozgod]

Magic kind of threw Lebron under the bus here (also whoever had their pitch forks out for Pelinka and trying to absolve Lebron of blame yikes)

During an appearance on ESPN's Get Up, Magic Johnson talked about how he tried to facilitate a sign-and-trade for DeMar DeRozan to end up with the Los Angeles Lakers. Johnson blames LeBron James for the decision that resulted in the Lakers instead trading Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as part of a package for Russell Westbrook while also letting go of Alex Caruso.

In Johnson's scenario, the Lakers would have acquired DeRozan while also trading for Buddy Hield. It is unclear what the Lakers would have had to send to the San Antonio Spurs for DeRozan, which would have also subjected them to the hard cap.

“The blame that he’s got to take is the fact that DeRozan ended up in Chicago and not with the Lakers," said Johnson. "DeRozan wanted to play for the Lakers and when I got the call from his agent, I called the Lakers, said, ‘Hey, he wants to come home.'"

"We could’ve made that deal. But when Russell and LeBron started talking, that’s when they nixed that deal and went with Westbrook."

 

Too bad for Magic, this is LeBron's team right now. And once LeBron is gone, they'll be left in a dumpster fire.

This is the first time I started thinking this may be Lebrons last season as a Laker. Magic, for all his flaws as a gm/executive, is a Lakers institution and beloved by basically everyone involved. I think there is probably at least a portion of fans that were not jazzed but lebrons stat chasing no defense season (and roll in the disastrous roster that has occurred). Will he be traded?

Interesting how good players such bad GMs

Lebron is as untalented a GM as he is talented as a player

Magic can't really throw stones given he's living in a glass house...he was a terrible GM himself.