Woj:"Davis expected to tell teams he only wants LA. Ainge will still make offer"

[Silky]

If he wont sign an extension it would be grossly idiotic to trade for him.

Use assets another way. Build a team differently.

We have great assets and some great youth and a superstar....we can get there without davis

[A Future of Stevens]

This whole thing is giving me anxiety.

[gouki88]

This whole thing is giving me anxiety.

Pretty much where I'm at too, lol. Celtics basketball was bad enough for me!

[Silky]

This whole thing is giving me anxiety.

I have pills for that!

I only ever thought the chamces of getting Davis long term was like 10% anyways.

So Im good.


Wpuld like to see what else can be done, I like celtic "the sum is greater than the parts" basketball and do not doubt for a second that with all the assets that Danny cannot find a suitable center to pair woth irving and tatum and fix the wing glut problem

[kraidstar]

Nice to see the media Laker hype machine is still alive and well.

They are just a brand to LeBron and his agent, nothing more. Same with the media.

I think most of the players have caught on to this over the years, and that's why we don't really see all the enthusiasm from the players despite the constant barrage of Laker hype from the media. They are a crappy organization with one egomaniac star and a media-driven league desperate to push that (crappy) pop brand.

There's also the element that competitive people don't like being told what to do. If I were a player I'd be pretty annoyed by the shameless way LeBron, the Lakers and their shills are trying to manipulate player movement. I hope the Lakers get the LaMarcus Aldridge/Paul George treatment again this summer. Never has a pro team deserved it more.

[iadera]

If he wont sign an extension it would be grossly idiotic to trade for him.

Use assets another way. Build a team differently.

We have great assets and some great youth and a superstar....we can get there without davis

Absolutely! Nobody mentioned this. This is a great team that doesn't need a lot upgrade. One piece missing puzzle maybe, and not that huge like Davis.

[tazzmaniac]

I don't get this.. Why would Davis or his agent say that when they do not have the power..

Sure they are trying to bring the price down.. LA trying it's darnest best to keep Kuzma perhaps.

But they do not have leverage and honestly can just sit this out till July if they want.. Send AD for example to Boston and he can't do anything... Look at the Kawhi situation... Toronto still took the risk despite no re assurance from the forward.

A year with Boston and Kyrie and the fans might still sway things and change Ads mind... Maybe but the point is rich Paul and Co. Are being stupid in this current lock out.

Raptors are in a win now situation.  Giving up DeRozan for Kawhi was not that big of risk for them.  We're in a win now and win later situation.  Giving up young Tatum and probably Brown and picks means putting a big dent in the future if AD won't re-sign. 

[gpap]

If that's the case, then I don't know why Ainge is wasting his time.

Let it go with the Anthony Davis foolishness because that's what it's turning into.

Davis clearly wants the Lakers and there's many parallels that bear this out (he wants to play with Lebron, him and Lebron share the same agent, he's got a house in California.)

In fact if anything, I want to see Davis get dealt to the Lakers by the trade deadline so this sideshow can end.

What are the Lakers going to do if they get Davis? Win with just 2 players?

There are other options out there (it doesn't have to be an NBA superstar.) Our goal now should be to focus on this season, compete for a championship (yes, it can be done without Anthony Davis) and maybe consult with Kyrie on what moves he would like us to make to increase the chances of us keeping him here.

[CFAN38]

The NBA has a player movement problem, and I don't really see a likely way for the league to fix it.

It's all agent driven, they hold all the power...soccer has the same issue except it's multiplied by transfer fees that the agent takes a cut of. Everyone knew as soon as Davis signed with Klutch that Rich Paul was going to push the Laker agenda, I still believe that LeBron James going to LA had nothing to do with Magic or anyone in their organisation, it was James and Rich Paul knowing that in LA, Klutch could have full control over the free agency market after all these years of being shot down in Cleveland.

Celtics aside I would really love to see the Pelicans and behind the scenes the NBA take a stand against James, Paul and the Lakers.

As NO alluded to in their press release the tampering going on here is pretty bad. Thinking back to the off-season when James signed with LA and the Lakers followed up with a bunch of 1 year bizarre player signing. The plan here was to never take that roster into the playoffs. Add to that the timing of the Davis trade request and it is pretty obvious that the plan all along was for Davis to force his way out pre-deadline.

NO Should refuse to even talk to team till the summer while starting to trade away older players in preparation for the post AD Pelicans. The worst AD and Paul can do is refuse to play. This just helps the NO pick this year. Come summer time the Lakers will still have to make a sizable offer or risk having their entire plan blow up in their faces for 2 years.   

[Roy H.]

There really should be somebody agents answer to, similar to the Bar with lawyers, etc.  I think somebody should be watching out for undue influence / breach of fiduciary duty / conflict of interest.

Is Paul pushing a deal to LA because it’s in Davis’ best interests, or Lebron’s?  Is he providing his client all information, or is he misrepresenting things? 

[apc]

Rich Paul very busy spreading rumors.

[aefgogreen]

The NBA has a player movement problem, and I don't really see a likely way for the league to fix it.

The league could fix it by letting teams "franchise" a  player.  Not sure the Players Association would agree to it.  And the NBA likes its Superteams anyway.

[jambr380]

There really should be somebody agents answer to, similar to the Bar with lawyers, etc.  I think somebody should be watching out for undue influence / breach of fiduciary duty / conflict of interest.

Is Paul pushing a deal to LA because it’s in Davis’ best interests, or Lebron’s?  Is he providing his client all information, or is he misrepresenting things?

Very true, but luckily this thing is so public that AD is hearing from all sides and not just Paul's/Lebron's side. And if he is not dealt before the deadline (this is so obviously their goal - they are going all in), then AD will have a lot more time to reflect and discuss with others what is best for his future.

Also, if AD is here and he goes to the NBA Finals with Kyrie and the gang, is he really going to leave to go play with Lebron who will be another year older and whatever players they have left?

[Silky]

If he wont sign an extension it would be grossly idiotic to trade for him.

Use assets another way. Build a team differently.

We have great assets and some great youth and a superstar....we can get there without davis

Absolutely! Nobody mentioned this. This is a great team that doesn't need a lot upgrade. One piece missing puzzle maybe, and not that huge like Davis.

Last years team with Irving is a contender. hands down.

Now there has been a changing of roles, Horford has declined and Baynes was hurt....

So addressing that bigman position to allow Horford a break at the PF spot and get brown back into starting lineup and morris back to bench and things are great.

Irving/terry
brown/smart
tatum/hayward
horford/morris
traded for player/baynes/williams

I would guess the bench would change based upon who is going out with all but smart being available.

[RJ87]

If that's the case, then I don't know why Ainge is wasting his time.

Let it go with the Anthony Davis foolishness because that's what it's turning into.

Davis clearly wants the Lakers and there's many parallels that bear this out (he wants to play with Lebron, him and Lebron share the same agent, he's got a house in California.)

In fact if anything, I want to see Davis get dealt to the Lakers by the trade deadline so this sideshow can end.

What are the Lakers going to do if they get Davis? Win with just 2 players?

There are other options out there (it doesn't have to be an NBA superstar.) Our goal now should be to focus on this season, compete for a championship (yes, it can be done without Anthony Davis) and maybe consult with Kyrie on what moves he would like us to make to increase the chances of us keeping him here.

I'd call his bluff and trade for him. You get a full season to pitch him. And I believe he walks away from playing with Irving (his friend) to play with a 35/36 year old Lebron.