The other problem with trading for mid to late second round picks is that Houston is already larded up with kid players that need development time, adding another player or two in the 40-60 range of the draft doesn’t do anything for them. Now a first rounder has more potential and therefore would get consideration, but your odds of producing a player with a draft & stash in the late second round are roughly equal to hitting the Powerball.The problem is that the Lakers don't have a first rounder in 2022, are subject to a swap w/ NO in 2023, and the Pels have rights to one of the 2024/25 first rounders. So there is no clean pick to trade until 2026. It may be that the Rockets end up not caring that much about how much the swaps cap the value of the pick, but it could be a complicating factor.
It’s actually 2027 unless and until Pelicans declare they want the 2024 first rounder. If Pelicans select 2025 then they can’t move 2026 first round pick. So they are stuck until the choice is made.The problem is that the Lakers don't have a first rounder in 2022, are subject to a swap w/ NO in 2023, and the Pels have rights to one of the 2024/25 first rounders. So there is no clean pick to trade until 2026. It may be that the Rockets end up not caring that much about how much the swaps cap the value of the pick, but it could be a complicating factor.
I'd have been so pumped after that, Lakers come out and lay an egg. Pitiful.Best moment of their 2021-22 season: View: https://twitter.com/espnlosangeles/status/1510707218248699905?s=21&t=CGNS8mDUlNb5MlTToqe6GA
This is the thing I’m wondering about: does he force his way out of town?Lebron out tonight too.
Yes, he'll play Game 81 against the Thunder and Game 82 against a Nuggets team that may have nothing to play for.Just wait until he's putting up 25 shots in a meaningless game 81 vs the Thunder so he can secure the scoring title.
Some of you need to get a grip. They dominated the playoffs and deserve that title as much as any other team in any other year.Can’t anything be done to vacate that hollow Covid title? It bugs me to no end that they have it.
This is all true. Just too bad the Suns missed that 8 seed by half a game...Some of you need to get a grip. They dominated the playoffs and deserve that title as much as any other team in any other year.
Interesting. His scoring title is at risk.Lebron out tonight too.
Since I didn't know what you were talking about.It got lost yesterday but Kareem shitting on Lebron while he showed up to present an award was a nice chef's kiss as well.
"Some of the things he's done and said are really beneath him, as far as I can see," Abdul-Jabbar said before the Lakers' 129-118 loss to the Denver Nuggets. "Some of the great things that he's done, he's standing on both sides of the fence almost, you know? It makes it hard for me to accept that when he's committed himself to a different take on everything. It's hard to figure out where he's standing. You've got to check him out every time."
Abdul-Jabbar, on hand to present James' teammate, Carmelo Anthony, with the newly designed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Trophy to honor Anthony as the NBA's Social Justice Champion for the 2020-21 season, has already voiced his disappointment in James several times this season.
After James celebrated a late-game 3 in an overtime win against the Indiana Pacers by mimicking the dance that former NBA All-Star Sam Cassell made popular, accentuating his nether regions, Abdul-Jabbar was pointed in his disapproval.
"For me, winning is enough," Abdul-Jabbar said in a video posted through Substack, a subscription commentary website, in early December. "Why do you need to do a stupid, childish dance and disrespect the other team on the court? It doesn't make sense. GOATs don't dance."
Later that month, Abdul-Jabbar took aim at James once again after the four-time MVP shared a Spider-Man meme to his Instagram account showing three identical Spider-Man characters pointing at one another, affixed with the labels "COVID," "cold," and "flu."
Abdul-Jabbar wrote on Substack that the social media post was a "blow to his worthy legacy" because the "implication is that LeBron doesn't understand the difference among these three illnesses, even after all the information that's presented in the press."
Abdul-Jabbar said his and James' in-person interactions have only been brief, but he would also welcome a further connection.
"If he would take the time, I definitely got the time," Abdul-Jabbar said. "I admire the things that he's done that have gotten all our attention. Sending a whole school to college? Wow. That's amazing. His thoughtfulness and willingness to back it up with his wallet, you got to give him credit for that. So I'm not throwing stones. I just wish he wouldn't -- you know, some of the things he's done, he should be embarrassed about. That's just where I'm coming from."
They were clearly the top team but that doesn’t mean I have to give them the credit they deserved/earned. It’s the Lakers so I’m going to discount everything they do, thank you very much.Some of you need to get a grip. They dominated the playoffs and deserve that title as much as any other team in any other year.
And they did have the best regular season record in the West by 3.5 games and the 3rd best in the NBA. The title was legit. But none of us have to celebrate it if we don't want toSome of you need to get a grip. They dominated the playoffs and deserve that title as much as any other team in any other year.
This guy gets it. The Lakers, the team that invented the asterisk for the Spurs in 1999, don’t need someone steadfastly defending their honor at every turn.And they did have the best regular season record in the West by 3.5 games and the 3rd best in the NBA. The title was legit. But none of us have to celebrate it if we don't want to
Crushed it.Best moment of their 2021-22 season: View: https://twitter.com/espnlosangeles/status/1510707218248699905?s=21&t=CGNS8mDUlNb5MlTToqe6GA
I'll make a deal. We can count their fake mickey mouse title if they give back the Minneapolis titles.This guy gets it. The Lakers, the team that invented the asterisk for the Spurs in 1999, don’t need someone steadfastly defending their honor at every turn.
Teams with bad losing records who don't deserve a spot that's why. It's getting like the NHL or how at times Hockey used to have bad teams make the playoffs and upset the No.1 seed. Makes the regular season mean little.I’m not sure why, it’s completely reinvigorated the late season games as teams that previously tanked for all they were worth now play to win down to the wire in hopes of getting a playoff game.
The Wolves could use them, tbh.I'll make a deal. We can count their fake mickey mouse title if they give back the Minneapolis titles.
And the Spurs in many ways were just as good as a T.E.A.M. if not better then the Lakers from 1999 to 2014. Maybe the best big 3 that played together the longest, not necessarily the most talented. Duncan, Ginobili and Parker.This guy gets it. The Lakers, the team that invented the asterisk for the Spurs in 1999, don’t need someone steadfastly defending their honor at every turn.
I’ll say that if the Lakers are eliminated by Game 81 there is zero chance LeBron goes out there injured to trying to win a relatively meaningless scoring title.Yes, he'll play Game 81 against the Thunder and Game 82 against a Nuggets team that may have nothing to play for.
He’s done great in those All-Star drafts lol. Lakers have a decent shot to win this game with Phoenix going through the motions.In a non-bubble year, there's a very good chance those Lakers aren't healthy enough to win. i hope to God LeBron goes on as a GM some day--it will be an absolute mess.
Phoenix woke up during halftime. Bye Bye LA!Lakers have a decent shot to win this game with Phoenix going through the motions.
If the lakers can't pull off a 20 point comeback in the next 9 minutes yes.Spurs Win!!!! Lakers Lose. So Spurs have tiebreaker??? Are the Fakers out???
Dude, read your own thread!Spurs Win!!!! Lakers Lose. So Spurs have tiebreaker??? Are the Fakers out???
He is clearly still hurt, but he is almost always hurt. If you are always missing games you can’t be a top player, no matter how good you are when you are out there.Incredible to think ESPN had AD ranked as the #2 player in the league like 5 seconds ago. He looks like a dime store late-career LaMarcus Aldridge right now.
They made the playoffs last yearIn a few minutes, the Lakers will officially miss the playoffs in 3 of the 4 years with LeBron. Whether you want to give the championship and asterisk or not, looking at the other years makes it pretty clear that the Lakers were helped by the long break in 2020 that allowed the team to be healthy throughout the playoffs. The Lakers aren’t getting any better and need a miracle to overhaul this roster. Watching them fail is almost as wonderful as watching the MFY flounder.
It's just as wonderful to me.In a few minutes, the Lakers will officially miss the playoffs in 3 of the 4 years with LeBron. Whether you want to give the championship and asterisk or not, looking at the other years makes it pretty clear that the Lakers were helped by the long break in 2020 that allowed the team to be healthy throughout the playoffs. The Lakers aren’t getting any better and need a miracle to overhaul this roster. Watching them fail is almost as wonderful as watching the MFY flounder.
Yeah, I remembered that and fixed the post. They didn’t do anything, but they did make it.They made the playoffs last year