Magic given credit for acquiring LeBron and possibly Kawhi

[Sketch5]

WRONG! Kawhi does not want to play with LeBron or for Magic.


https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/kawhi-leonard-trade-rumors-spurs-star-could-prefer-sixers-clippers-over-lakers-superteam/

He does not want to play for us either, though

As much as I would like to believe Leonard would prefer to compete against Lebron I don't buy this article. Seems like posturing

Neither do I. It was reported a week ago that KL texted LBJ and told him he'd love to play with him.

But how do we know that, that report is legit too. Is there video of LEbron on Lepnard saying that it happened?

Pretty much we don't know if he wants to, or doesn't. So it's going to be a gamble to trade for him unless he signs an extension, which I'd be surprised if he did. 

[tenn_smoothie]

Danny - Stay away from Leonard. He has never mentioned a desire to play for the best franchise in the league and I don't want us giving up any assets to rent him for one year. Danny has built a very good team with solid character and chemistry - mostly. Let's work on loyalty and stability. The titles will come soon enough.

[Moranis]

WRONG! Kawhi does not want to play with LeBron or for Magic.


https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/kawhi-leonard-trade-rumors-spurs-star-could-prefer-sixers-clippers-over-lakers-superteam/

He does not want to play for us either, though

As much as I would like to believe Leonard would prefer to compete against Lebron I don't buy this article. Seems like posturing

Yeah, I'm not buying all these recent reports making it seem like Kawhi has cooled on the Lakers.  It seems pretty obvious to me it's just San Antonio trying to get the Lakers to bite on their astronomically high price tag, and using the Paul George situation as the bait.

I think people who are looking at PG and Kawhi as similar situations are misreading the circusmtances.  The circumstances are totally different.

I can absolutely see Kawhi not wanting to play with Lebron.  There was talk that Kawhi wanted to go to a larger market to get increased visibility and to get a large shoe deal.  Lebron sucks all the oxygen out of the room.  Does Kawhi really want to be looked at as Lebron's supporting cast?   To get the blame when things are going poorly and the crumbs when things go well.

He can ask Kobe how he felt when Shaq referred to him as Robin or ask Kyrie why he left LeBron in Cleveland.

Yeah, I'm not surprised most Celtics fans have the most negative view of LeBron possible, regardless of whether it's based in reality or not.

And I totally get why Celtics fans would want to convince themselves Kawhi won't end up a Laker.  Why should it be so easy for them to get all the stars when Boston had to work much harder to get ours.

I think there is a pretty good chance that Kawhi will stay wherever he is traded to, so LA shouldn't just count on him coming next summer

Why?

I feel that Kawhi has little to prove. At this point, he can go make $30m+ per year in his hometown with everything that he wants. Why wouldn't Kawhi wait a year to make that happen?

same reason Paul George stayed in OKC.  He was guaranteed to play for the Lakers also. It doesn't work that way

[Neurotic Guy]

As he should.

He's a lovable guy. I appreciate the rivalry that these two shared



Great to see him getting SOME credit for pulling this off. Jeanie Buss should, too.

Here's to hoping that LA can become relevant again

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gw5vVRW78lA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTgYb1HCZ7k

But alas the beatings SHALL and WILL continue.

Green Wave.

Yes, Magic "pulled it off".  He offered a max contract to the best player in the world who had given every indication that he wanted to sign with the Lakers.  Masterful and Magical coup - - how did he do it? Must be mirrors.   

Magic was set-up fairly well to be in position to produce cap space.  He kept the no-brainer train going and ahhhh... offered a contract.   He is now in the brutal position of having two other top players (one probably top 5) who are positioning themselves to join the Lakers either by lowering their own trade value or by waiting a year (Butler already being offered a max extension by his current team -- which he'll refuse).    Can Magic pull off a trade? Probably.  Can he wait a year and again grab a great player who wants to be a Laker. Yes.   Is this really the stuff of "executive of the year".  Honestly, is there a GM in the game today who would be stupid enough NOT to do what Magic is doing?   Probably not.   

What he pulled off was getting the Laker job.  In all honesty, the  rest (in GM terms) is pretty easy.

[Androslav]

As he should.

He's a lovable guy. I appreciate the rivalry that these two shared



Great to see him getting SOME credit for pulling this off. Jeanie Buss should, too.

Here's to hoping that LA can become relevant again

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gw5vVRW78lA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTgYb1HCZ7k

But alas the beatings SHALL and WILL continue.

Green Wave.

Yes, Magic "pulled it off".  He offered a max contract to the best player in the world who had given every indication that he wanted to sign with the Lakers.  Masterful and Magical coup - - how did he do it? Must be mirrors.   

Magic was set-up fairly well to be in position to produce cap space.  He kept the no-brainer train going and ahhhh... offered a contract.   He is now in the brutal position of having two other top players (one probably top 5) who are positioning themselves to join the Lakers either by lowering their own trade value or by waiting a year (Butler already being offered a max extension by his current team -- which he'll refuse).    Can Magic pull off a trade? Probably.  Can he wait a year and again grab a great player who wants to be a Laker. Yes.   Is this really the stuff of "executive of the year".  Honestly, is there a GM in the game today who would be stupid enough NOT to do what Magic is doing?   Probably not.   

What he pulled off was getting the Laker job.  In all honesty, the  rest (in GM terms) is pretty easy.

I wouldn't dismiss the Mozgov/Russell and the Nance/IT trades as "he got everything set up prior his tenure".
Those salary dumps were critical and excellent forward thinking moves.

[celticsclay]

WRONG! Kawhi does not want to play with LeBron or for Magic.


https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/kawhi-leonard-trade-rumors-spurs-star-could-prefer-sixers-clippers-over-lakers-superteam/

He does not want to play for us either, though

As much as I would like to believe Leonard would prefer to compete against Lebron I don't buy this article. Seems like posturing

Yeah, I'm not buying all these recent reports making it seem like Kawhi has cooled on the Lakers.  It seems pretty obvious to me it's just San Antonio trying to get the Lakers to bite on their astronomically high price tag, and using the Paul George situation as the bait.

I think people who are looking at PG and Kawhi as similar situations are misreading the circusmtances.  The circumstances are totally different.

I can absolutely see Kawhi not wanting to play with Lebron.  There was talk that Kawhi wanted to go to a larger market to get increased visibility and to get a large shoe deal.  Lebron sucks all the oxygen out of the room.  Does Kawhi really want to be looked at as Lebron's supporting cast?   To get the blame when things are going poorly and the crumbs when things go well.

He can ask Kobe how he felt when Shaq referred to him as Robin or ask Kyrie why he left LeBron in Cleveland.

Yeah, I'm not surprised most Celtics fans have the most negative view of LeBron possible, regardless of whether it's based in reality or not.

And I totally get why Celtics fans would want to convince themselves Kawhi won't end up a Laker.  Why should it be so easy for them to get all the stars when Boston had to work much harder to get ours.

I think there is a pretty good chance that Kawhi will stay wherever he is traded to, so LA shouldn't just count on him coming next summer

Why?

I feel that Kawhi has little to prove. At this point, he can go make $30m+ per year in his hometown with everything that he wants. Why wouldn't Kawhi wait a year to make that happen?

same reason Paul George stayed in OKC.  He was guaranteed to play for the Lakers also. It doesn't work that way

it seems like Leonard has had his camp leak a lot stronger sentiments (threatening to sit out, which I don't recall George doing). Time will tell, but every situation is very unique and George and Leonard have very different personalities.

[GreenFaith1819]

As he should.

He's a lovable guy. I appreciate the rivalry that these two shared



Great to see him getting SOME credit for pulling this off. Jeanie Buss should, too.

Here's to hoping that LA can become relevant again

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gw5vVRW78lA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTgYb1HCZ7k

But alas the beatings SHALL and WILL continue.

Green Wave.

Yes, Magic "pulled it off".  He offered a max contract to the best player in the world who had given every indication that he wanted to sign with the Lakers.  Masterful and Magical coup - - how did he do it? Must be mirrors.   

Magic was set-up fairly well to be in position to produce cap space.  He kept the no-brainer train going and ahhhh... offered a contract.   He is now in the brutal position of having two other top players (one probably top 5) who are positioning themselves to join the Lakers either by lowering their own trade value or by waiting a year (Butler already being offered a max extension by his current team -- which he'll refuse).    Can Magic pull off a trade? Probably.  Can he wait a year and again grab a great player who wants to be a Laker. Yes.   Is this really the stuff of "executive of the year".  Honestly, is there a GM in the game today who would be stupid enough NOT to do what Magic is doing?   Probably not.   

What he pulled off was getting the Laker job.  In all honesty, the  rest (in GM terms) is pretty easy.

NG - I'll leave the accolades, awards, etc - up to the Media Types and folks here on the Blog. I know that some of us here are still rather salty (and understandably so) about our OWN Danny and Brad's lack of recognition.

To ME - I am happy that LeBron James went to LA - for whatever reasons he did so. To ME the rivalry is back.

For ME - I'm hoping for a Christmas Day 5:30 PM game between Lakers and BOS - "IN" Boston, once again. This is very possible now with LeBron being in LA.

As one who loves Magic and can look past the rivalry stuff I'm happy for him. Here's hoping that our own Kyrie doesn't go join him there.

[SHAQATTACK]

James wanted to go to CA anyway ,  the Lakers loving his type of diva .....it worked out perfect, Lakers sell more ticket and get better TV contractsc, James reaps the money gains to from the big market .   Money is THE big drawc.  James is a money hoarder.

Magic is no more of a genius than my old hound dog .  SMH ...

[Neurotic Guy]

As he should.

He's a lovable guy. I appreciate the rivalry that these two shared



Great to see him getting SOME credit for pulling this off. Jeanie Buss should, too.

Here's to hoping that LA can become relevant again

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gw5vVRW78lA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTgYb1HCZ7k

But alas the beatings SHALL and WILL continue.

Green Wave.

Yes, Magic "pulled it off".  He offered a max contract to the best player in the world who had given every indication that he wanted to sign with the Lakers.  Masterful and Magical coup - - how did he do it? Must be mirrors.   

Magic was set-up fairly well to be in position to produce cap space.  He kept the no-brainer train going and ahhhh... offered a contract.   He is now in the brutal position of having two other top players (one probably top 5) who are positioning themselves to join the Lakers either by lowering their own trade value or by waiting a year (Butler already being offered a max extension by his current team -- which he'll refuse).    Can Magic pull off a trade? Probably.  Can he wait a year and again grab a great player who wants to be a Laker. Yes.   Is this really the stuff of "executive of the year".  Honestly, is there a GM in the game today who would be stupid enough NOT to do what Magic is doing?   Probably not.   

What he pulled off was getting the Laker job.  In all honesty, the  rest (in GM terms) is pretty easy.

I wouldn't dismiss the Mozgov/Russell and the Nance/IT trades as "he got everything set up prior his tenure".
Those salary dumps were critical and excellent forward thinking moves.

I addressed that in my post when I said he kept the no-brainer train going.  Who would not have known to dump salary?  Salary dump is not the most difficult thing for a GM to do. I am not giving Magic NO credit, it's just not anything close to being impressive.   

[GreenEnvy]

As he should.

He's a lovable guy. I appreciate the rivalry that these two shared



Great to see him getting SOME credit for pulling this off. Jeanie Buss should, too.

Here's to hoping that LA can become relevant again

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gw5vVRW78lA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTgYb1HCZ7k

But alas the beatings SHALL and WILL continue.

Green Wave.

Yes, Magic "pulled it off".  He offered a max contract to the best player in the world who had given every indication that he wanted to sign with the Lakers.  Masterful and Magical coup - - how did he do it? Must be mirrors.   

Magic was set-up fairly well to be in position to produce cap space.  He kept the no-brainer train going and ahhhh... offered a contract.   He is now in the brutal position of having two other top players (one probably top 5) who are positioning themselves to join the Lakers either by lowering their own trade value or by waiting a year (Butler already being offered a max extension by his current team -- which he'll refuse).    Can Magic pull off a trade? Probably.  Can he wait a year and again grab a great player who wants to be a Laker. Yes.   Is this really the stuff of "executive of the year".  Honestly, is there a GM in the game today who would be stupid enough NOT to do what Magic is doing?   Probably not.   

What he pulled off was getting the Laker job.  In all honesty, the  rest (in GM terms) is pretty easy.

I wouldn't dismiss the Mozgov/Russell and the Nance/IT trades as "he got everything set up prior his tenure".
Those salary dumps were critical and excellent forward thinking moves.

I addressed that in my post when I said he kept the no-brainer train going.  Who would not have known to dump salary?  Salary dump is not the most difficult thing for a GM to do. I am not giving Magic NO credit, it's just not anything close to being impressive.

Yet you know the Lakers could be a .500 team and eek into the playoffs (only to get swept) and Magic will be runaway for EotY.