NBA Season 2021-22

[kraidstar]

Hmmm ... so Westbrook is going to be in the last 12 months of his contract next season. That contract may be tradeable for a bad long term deal. LAL might be able to find something somewhere that works better for them heading into next season.

That could make a big difference into putting LA back into the playoff mix next season along with of course better health from Anthony Davis. Some alterations to the supporting cast. Spend the MLE. Not impossible.

Westbrook, Reaves for Hardway, Bertans, Kleber (Dallas just tells Russ to stay home - trade is about clearing future cap to re-sign Brunson)

Westbrook, Reaves for Fournier, Randle, Burks (NY clears the deck and tries again with cap space)

Westbrook for Hayward, Oubre (CHA realizes Hayward can't stay healthy and clears him out)

Westbrook, Reaves, 27 1st for Brogdon, Hield (IND clears the deck and truly rebuilds)

I'm sure there are other variations out there and other minor pieces could be added

Dallas deal seems fair. But it doesn't move the needle for the Lakers. Bertans and Kleber have been playing like minimum salary guys already. And Hardaway's deal is an albatross.

The Hayward trade could happen but would take draft picks from LA. Oubre is too good a player to be a throw-in. Again this is the problem with any Russ trade. Even with a sketchy contract like Hayward's a bunch of extra filler is needed, in this case useful filler. I also don't think Charlotte gives up this quickly on Hayward for cap space. He is their prize free agent. You know that means something to Michael Jordan. If healthy he is the perfect fit for that club. I think they see how things pan out next year with Hayward in the mix. Maybe move him at the deadline if things aren't looking good. But with the way Ball and Bridges have played IMO they stay the course for now to get a better idea of what their ceiling is.

Knicks trade makes some sense but won't happen because it's the Knicks. I also think the Lakers would have to attach a pick or two. Though the Knicks guys are overpaid they are still more useful than Westbrook.

That is a terrible deal for Indy. for comparison the Pelicans got 2 firsts from the Bucks for Jrue Holiday. The Pacers are rebuilding, and need more raw assets than that. Westbrook's expiring deal does not really help them much. And if they want expirings they could get them elsewhere anyways with more assets attached.


Edit: i like the Knicks trade best for both teams. But NY can and should leverage LA for picks. Able bodies are valuable in this league, overpaid or not. Keep in mind that Fournier cost the C's a 2nd and a trade exception just a year ago, and the Lakers are a lot more desperate than we were. But Randle would generate the buzz that Lakers ownership values, even if their defense would still be garbage.

If I'm the Lakers I surround those guys with some scrappy young freak athletes - Semi Ojeleye type minimum guys - and hope for the best.

[Goldstar88]

Cavs pessimistic about Jarrett Allen's availability for Tuesday

Even though the usage of his left hand and J.B. Bickerstaff’s proclamation about progress were positive signs, sources tell cleveland.com there’s pessimism surrounding Allen’s availability Tuesday night. Bickerstaff, a source said, is mentally preparing for Allen to be out. Another source called him playing “unrealistic,” only leaving open the possibility based on Allen’s extreme competitiveness level. The Cavs are expected to practice before leaving for New York Monday afternoon. – via Chris Fedor @ Cleveland Plain Dealer

[celticsclay]

Hmmm ... so Westbrook is going to be in the last 12 months of his contract next season. That contract may be tradeable for a bad long term deal. LAL might be able to find something somewhere that works better for them heading into next season.

That could make a big difference into putting LA back into the playoff mix next season along with of course better health from Anthony Davis. Some alterations to the supporting cast. Spend the MLE. Not impossible.

Westbrook, Reaves for Hardway, Bertans, Kleber (Dallas just tells Russ to stay home - trade is about clearing future cap to re-sign Brunson)

Westbrook, Reaves for Fournier, Randle, Burks (NY clears the deck and tries again with cap space)

Westbrook for Hayward, Oubre (CHA realizes Hayward can't stay healthy and clears him out)

Westbrook, Reaves, 27 1st for Brogdon, Hield (IND clears the deck and truly rebuilds)

I'm sure there are other variations out there and other minor pieces could be added

Dallas deal seems fair. But it doesn't move the needle for the Lakers. Bertans and Kleber have been playing like minimum salary guys already. And Hardaway's deal is an albatross.

The Hayward trade could happen but would take draft picks from LA. Oubre is too good a player to be a throw-in. Again this is the problem with any Russ trade. Even with a sketchy contract like Hayward's a bunch of extra filler is needed, in this case useful filler. I also don't think Charlotte gives up this quickly on Hayward for cap space. He is their prize free agent. You know that means something to Michael Jordan. If healthy he is the perfect fit for that club. I think they see how things pan out next year with Hayward in the mix. Maybe move him at the deadline if things aren't looking good. But with the way Ball and Bridges have played IMO they stay the course for now to get a better idea of what their ceiling is.

Knicks trade makes some sense but won't happen because it's the Knicks. I also think the Lakers would have to attach a pick or two. Though the Knicks guys are overpaid they are still more useful than Westbrook.

That is a terrible deal for Indy. for comparison the Pelicans got 2 firsts from the Bucks for Jrue Holiday. The Pacers are rebuilding, and need more raw assets than that. Westbrook's expiring deal does not really help them much. And if they want expirings they could get them elsewhere anyways with more assets attached.


Edit: i like the Knicks trade best for both teams. But NY can and should leverage LA for picks. Able bodies are valuable in this league, overpaid or not. Keep in mind that Fournier cost the C's a 2nd and a trade exception just a year ago, and the Lakers are a lot more desperate than we were. But Randle would generate the buzz that Lakers ownership values, even if their defense would still be garbage.

If I'm the Lakers I surround those guys with some scrappy young freak athletes - Semi Ojeleye type minimum guys - and hope for the best.

A lot of these scenarios are based on the idea that Westbrook would just sit out. I don't think he is going to accept that the way Wall did. He is way too competitive, and we saw how much he bristled at even spending some time on the bench this season. Can a league legally force a guy to sit out if they are healthy? Isn't this kind of hurting his opportunity for future wages? This would be a real problem for just about any of these teams. I guess this could just force a buyout, but i don't see the sitting out scenario for him.

[Moranis]

That is a terrible deal for Indy. for comparison the Pelicans got 2 firsts from the Bucks for Jrue Holiday. The Pacers are rebuilding, and need more raw assets than that. Westbrook's expiring deal does not really help them much. And if they want expirings they could get them elsewhere anyways with more assets attached.

Sure, but Jrue Holiday was way better than those guys and was brought in to ensure Giannis re-signed.  Brogdon can't stay healthy and has a big long contract.  Given the length and his health, he might have the worst contract in the sport.  He is a good player when he plays, but doesn't exactly impact winning a ton and he is injured a lot.  Hield is fine as a bench shooter, but he is definitely overpaid for what he provides.  I don't know that Indiana does it, but it does clear out their long term salary and gets them a distant enough 1st it could have some real value and a decent young player.  Westbrook, for all his faults, also will draw interest to a bad team in a small market and there is some value in that as well for this year.  I also don't think he would affect Haliburton's development in a negative way so I think he'd be fine for a year (or half a year) there, where I'd be more concerned about that if I'm the Hornets trying to develop Ball (as an example). 

[Moranis]

Hmmm ... so Westbrook is going to be in the last 12 months of his contract next season. That contract may be tradeable for a bad long term deal. LAL might be able to find something somewhere that works better for them heading into next season.

That could make a big difference into putting LA back into the playoff mix next season along with of course better health from Anthony Davis. Some alterations to the supporting cast. Spend the MLE. Not impossible.

Westbrook, Reaves for Hardway, Bertans, Kleber (Dallas just tells Russ to stay home - trade is about clearing future cap to re-sign Brunson)

Westbrook, Reaves for Fournier, Randle, Burks (NY clears the deck and tries again with cap space)

Westbrook for Hayward, Oubre (CHA realizes Hayward can't stay healthy and clears him out)

Westbrook, Reaves, 27 1st for Brogdon, Hield (IND clears the deck and truly rebuilds)

I'm sure there are other variations out there and other minor pieces could be added

Dallas deal seems fair. But it doesn't move the needle for the Lakers. Bertans and Kleber have been playing like minimum salary guys already. And Hardaway's deal is an albatross.

The Hayward trade could happen but would take draft picks from LA. Oubre is too good a player to be a throw-in. Again this is the problem with any Russ trade. Even with a sketchy contract like Hayward's a bunch of extra filler is needed, in this case useful filler. I also don't think Charlotte gives up this quickly on Hayward for cap space. He is their prize free agent. You know that means something to Michael Jordan. If healthy he is the perfect fit for that club. I think they see how things pan out next year with Hayward in the mix. Maybe move him at the deadline if things aren't looking good. But with the way Ball and Bridges have played IMO they stay the course for now to get a better idea of what their ceiling is.

Knicks trade makes some sense but won't happen because it's the Knicks. I also think the Lakers would have to attach a pick or two. Though the Knicks guys are overpaid they are still more useful than Westbrook.

That is a terrible deal for Indy. for comparison the Pelicans got 2 firsts from the Bucks for Jrue Holiday. The Pacers are rebuilding, and need more raw assets than that. Westbrook's expiring deal does not really help them much. And if they want expirings they could get them elsewhere anyways with more assets attached.


Edit: i like the Knicks trade best for both teams. But NY can and should leverage LA for picks. Able bodies are valuable in this league, overpaid or not. Keep in mind that Fournier cost the C's a 2nd and a trade exception just a year ago, and the Lakers are a lot more desperate than we were. But Randle would generate the buzz that Lakers ownership values, even if their defense would still be garbage.

If I'm the Lakers I surround those guys with some scrappy young freak athletes - Semi Ojeleye type minimum guys - and hope for the best.

A lot of these scenarios are based on the idea that Westbrook would just sit out. I don't think he is going to accept that the way Wall did. He is way too competitive, and we saw how much he bristled at even spending some time on the bench this season. Can a league legally force a guy to sit out if they are healthy? Isn't this kind of hurting his opportunity for future wages? This would be a real problem for just about any of these teams. I guess this could just force a buyout, but i don't see the sitting out scenario for him.

Dallas is the only one of those I would envision Westbrook not playing in.

[Donoghus]

So is this the official, official?

Adrian Wojnarowski
@wojespn
·
14m
The Lakers have dismissed coach Frank Vogel, sources tell
@ramonashelburne
 and me.

[Donoghus]

More coaching news.

Marc Stein
@TheSteinLine
 · 4m
And here is Sacramento’s official announcement that it will not retain interim coach Alvin Gentry:

[Birdman]

Hope Lakers take John Calipari from Kentucky!! He’s on a short lease here anyhow

[Who]

They should have fired Vogel the day they acquired Westbrook.

He is a one trick pony of a coach who can only coach big tall long defensive orientated teams. That was never going to work with Westbrook & LeBron together. They needing for floor spacing and speed. Pace and space basketball. They needed to replace Vogel with such a coach right there on Day One. Instead they wasted a season.

Misplaced loyalty.

Loyalty first and foremost should be to the fans. Not the coach. Not the players. The fans. If either the coach or the players cannot do the job, it's moving day. Vogel could not do the job. That was clear for the moment this trade happened. Wrong man at the wrong time at the wrong place.

Just like D'Antoni was years ago on that other Lakers failure team that had the opposite one trick pony problem. A coach who wanted pace and space but had a roster build for post up halfcourt basketball. Same principle.

[Roy H.]

Hope Lakers take John Calipari from Kentucky!! He’s on a short lease here anyhow

A rumor I saw was Juwan Howard, with Rondo on his coaching staff. 

[Celtics2021]

Hope Lakers take John Calipari from Kentucky!! He’s on a short lease here anyhow

A rumor I saw was Juwan Howard, with Rondo on his coaching staff.

It will not be Juwan Howard.  He really wants to coach his son, who's a top-50 recruit headed to Michigan this season.  If the job came open in 1-2 years it would be a more believable rumor, but he's staying put at Michigan for the time being.

[liam]

BAAAANNNNEEEEE!!!!!

"7. They found one of the biggest steals of the 2020 draft

Most NBA teams didn't think Desmond Bane had a lot of upside after playing all four seasons in college, a rarity these days for draft prospects. The Grizzlies noted that Bane got significantly better each year at TCU and projected that development to continue. Bane, who played in summer league last year despite being a second-team All-Rookie selection, has emerged as a primary offensive option and a major reason Memphis went 20-5 when Morant wasn't available.""

[celticsclay]

Hope Lakers take John Calipari from Kentucky!! He’s on a short lease here anyhow

A rumor I saw was Juwan Howard, with Rondo on his coaching staff.

I guess maybe he will, but feel like it stinks if Rondo ends his career in Cleveland in the next week on a time knocked out of the playin because half the team got injured. Wanted to see Playoff Rondo one more time.

[Donoghus]

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
 · 8m
Cavaliers All-Star center Jarrett Allen is out for Play-In Tournament game vs. Nets on Tuesday night. Allen has been rehabbing a fractured left finger that he suffered March 6.

[Neurotic Guy]

BAAAANNNNEEEEE!!!!!

"7. They found one of the biggest steals of the 2020 draft

Most NBA teams didn't think Desmond Bane had a lot of upside after playing all four seasons in college, a rarity these days for draft prospects. The Grizzlies noted that Bane got significantly better each year at TCU and projected that development to continue. Bane, who played in summer league last year despite being a second-team All-Rookie selection, has emerged as a primary offensive option and a major reason Memphis went 20-5 when Morant wasn't available.""

Big miss.  Not as big as Giannis or Tony Parker, and I'm sure many others.  But despite the miss, SO not worth reliving every week.  Bane obviously projects to having a very good career at this point and C's would be deeper if they had him.  Would also be less deep if they'd taken Markell Fultz and Kris Dunn.   

Back when the C's were struggling to maintain .500 the miss on Bane was painful. Now, no big deal at all -- this team is looking pretty darn good without him.