He's a first time coach trying to install offensive/defensive principles for the first time in his career.
Ah ok forgot about that. That Vuc trade was so bad. They better start tanking immediately to get a bottom 4 record!
Yes and Indiana too after they deal Turner.
The trade I could see is the Russ trade… but in this version it’s JC, Mike, Gay for Russ and some seconds. Clears the cap for next year a bit more. Lakers keep their pick but can make a more honest attempt at being a solid playoff team. The thing the Lakers are overlooking with all the cap space talk is that they could likely do much better using expiring salaries next year with their picks. FA isn’t going to produce the amazing results they hope and even if they sign a Turner then they won’t be retaining any guys from this years squad outside of AD and Lebron and they won’t have any salary to attach to their firsts to get the all star. They won’t get Wiggins or any restricted FAs the best they could hope for is Kyrie taking a lower than max deal. Even with Ky they could offer more money in a sign and trade and the nets would likely love to get something back.
Yup, that would be a good trade.
They are already in their imo… even with Turner who is rarely healthy… the rest of their team is rough. Tyrese is good but he’s a guy that is likely a #2/3 that is an amazing co star… kinda like Khris Middleton (not a comp at all). Mathurin might be okay… Duarte and Hield is solid… then it’s like McConnell… Jalen Smith? brissett is okayish… I think they will be every bit as horrible as us for sure.
Their issue is just the returning salary has to be super high because of Russ… they also may have to release some draft capital to make it happen.
I think Gay is the compromise for getting Mike and JC with no draft capital. KO is an overpay... but I get what you are going for... and that is why I wanted us to do a draft heavy expiring contract trade with Bogey's deal... even if it cost you Vando. I know the pick was top 25 protected... but you really think Phoenix wouldn't have gone to top 20 protected at very least... especially now when it seems the Jae Crowder trade isn't coming together like they wanted. If they have Vando and Bogey with the squad they have they are almost surely sending that pick. You'd also collect a couple seconds for Crowder from Memphis. The amount of hype we gave Vando was a little bonkers imo. He is best playing 25 minutes a night with other stars... his abilities and dirty work are marginalized here... and I doubt there is much more juice to squeeze there offensively.
I think it looks like they are showcasing or testing NAW to me. He seems like an amazing guy... he's clearly trying hard and has a great attitude so they want it to work. Giving him pg duties and Sexton and others deferring to him just tells me they are trying to give him a chance. I think he could be on the bubble but they might keep him just because his $5M deal may help in making trades work.
Agreed alot of these energy players could've helped out immensely the past few seasons.
I think KO could have some decent trade value at the deadline. He will rack up some #s if we continue using him like this. Has been a useful playoff performer for a couple teams. I could see a package of KO and Stanley being appealing to like the Suns... or some other playoff team that wants a placeholder bench wing and a shooting big.
Potentially.... it will depend on what the few buyers with picks need... still think we could have squeezed a second or two out of those deals.
In some ways I think DA did all these guys a solid. He traded Don, Rudy, Royce, Bev to playoff teams. He sent Bog to a team in Detroit where he has a decent chance to not only stick but also get a nice contract extension.
That is what has made me laugh when folks are like... "oh man this Jazz team is just so bad". If we played it straight this is a 30-35 win team depending on health.
