Anthony Davis: No Loyalty
- Thread starter HomeRunBaker
- Start date
Oh wait...you mean "sources" who speak to water carrying media types may have been relaying inaccurate information, perhaps deliberately?
If that is what happened, we have entered a dangerous new phase in the NBA - a time when outside actors with an agenda can try to and maybe actually impact players and teams.
If that is what happened, we have entered a dangerous new phase in the NBA - a time when outside actors with an agenda can try to and maybe actually impact players and teams.
Not to go political, but we've been there for a long time in the world of "normal" media and politics.
It was only a matter of time before the NBA caught up; frankly, I'm surprised it took this long.
But I thought that agents ran the league, and Lebron (stars) run the agents, so Davis to L.A. was totally fucking inevitable. What happened?
“All 29 other teams are on my list.” - AD
“Then we’ll see.”
Just damage control until he is a one year rental then signs with LAL.
Needs to fire Rich Paul and make him seem like the evil one to regain his image outside of LA.
“Then we’ll see.”
Just damage control until he is a one year rental then signs with LAL.
Needs to fire Rich Paul and make him seem like the evil one to regain his image outside of LA.
Apologies - I was being sarcastic but it wasn't clear (too lazy to add memes or emojis). Teams, players, agents, sponsors and handlers have been long trying to influence free-agency and trades via the media. That in and of itself isn't a big deal - at least not in terms of how transactions go down.
However what is interesting is that players like Davis (until now), Durant and Irving haven't exactly discouraged all this noise around their respective situations. They are under no obligation to do so but there are ways to tamp down some of the speculation without giving up any of their optionality.
First and foremost would be to say something like "I am not going to comment on my situation for the rest of the season so don't bother asking". Reporters, bloggers etc will continue to ask and I am sure its tiring. However players give repeated, rote answers to the same questions all the time. You would think this approach and not being coy would be preferable.
Yeah, I don’t read that’s much into this statement. It’s definitely cool that he don’t answer “because I don’t like he city and don’t want to go there”. But almost no one is going to say anything like that. He could be totally on board with building a team in Boston...or not.
Given how poorly he has accepted his fate of boos makes it seem like he’d relish the reception he’d get in Boston even more. Not surprising, but further evidence towards the “he’d extend” camp.
Twitter can be a terrible, awful, horrible place that causes you to lose all faith in humanity. Then sometimes...
To all those AD fans.. is anyone worried about his injury history and the number of different types of injuries he's had? This season will be hard to judge just because who knows how many games the Pelicans want him to play..or how many he does.. but isn't there some worry about trading away a bevy of young players for someone who may be on the decline injury-wise..especially given his size? Or is it a risk you simply have to take given how good he is?
PR/image rebuild by AD. Wouldn’t put too much stock in it. But it’s possible he realizes Ainge isn’t flinching and it’s a bit of a fait accompli.
I mean, he’s basically some ping pong balls away from being a Celtic. Nobody can touch a Tatum package except for the Zion winner. And if that winner is not NY, then there is a very good chance that AD is a Celtic in 4.5 months.
The real question is how intent he is at testing FA. Right now, he seems very likely to do so. It will be very interesting to see what LA does with their cap space this summer.
Yes, and since they will probably whiff on KD, Klay, etc...they will probably have no choice to wait another year.
Which would really complicate things for the Celtics. If you give up Tatum+ for AD and the Lakers have the cap space to take him for free after 1 season, that would be one of the greatest gut punches in NBA history.
To me, the most revealing part of AD’s Q+A came when asked about the Knicks as a possible destination he said “they have a nice little team”. Clear evidence he was just doing damage control and saying nice things about 29 clubs to get the tampering monkey off LAL’s back.
Maybe the Lakers won't waste another year of prime Bron?
The Lakers could sign OR trade their kids for some high priced talent from a re-builder this Summer.
Free Agents or talent LA may have a shot at this off-season:
Klay or Kawhi - SoCal roots
Boogie, Kemba, Butler, Middleton - all may want a bigger role/stage
Players on re-builders that may be available for some Laker kids:
Brad Beal, Conley, Jrue Holiday, Andre Drummond, Blake Griffin, Zach Lavine
It's really in Rich Paul/Klutch's best interest to get as many max contracts from around the league as possible. They tried their best to railroad AD into LA, time to move on if AD has the Celtics on his list.
Yes, the possibilities are endless here for LA. End of the day, if I’m Magic it would be hard for me to throw away LeBron’s age 35 season. But if the top guys all say no to LA, which is quite possible, then perhaps he punts the 2019-2020 season instead of using his cap space on, say, Boogie and Kemba.
2020 is the summer of Draymond Green and Serge Ibaka. Now is the he time for LA.
2020 is also the summer of Anthony Davis. Magic might be willing to wait, especially if he knows that AD is a near sure thing. Of course, he may not want to take that risk and get George’d again.
This summer might be the most interesting NBA offseason in recent memory. Just so much talent up for grabs.
“Pelicans fans, breathe easy. Anthony Davis will leave something special just for you as he exits: “I will always have love for the city of NO. When that time comes I am going to definitely have a heartwarming message for them and put it out on Instagram like everybody else does.””
I hate to say it, but he and LeBron deserve one another. I find myself almost hoping that the Lakers miss the playoffs and win the lottery so that they can complete the match made in hell. Almost.
I agree. Given Lebron's ego, I can't imagine him enduring a second season of not making the playoffs. They will make a play for AD this summer, but I expect they will also heavily explore whatever they can get from the FA market and just make the best of it. James doesn't care if the Lakers are good 5 years from now. He wants to finish his career playing relevant games.
That is an odd thing to talk about. I suppose if a reporter asked him a stupid leading question , he might have had no choice.
I think you're right here. Time to start rooting for the Lakers to not make the playoffs this season. I've been rooting for draft pick status and wanted the Lakers to push the Kings out into the lottery. But screw that. That pick will be part of the package that goes to the Pels even if its #16-17 instead of #13-15.
Want the Lakers to get motivated to "win now' and could see them very competitive next season with one big free agent (Butler), two older 2nd rate FAs looking for multiple years (ie. Danny Green, Bledsoe, Valanciunis, Rozier, Morris twins, Ross), add a ring chaser (Dedmon-USC guy, Korver, Ellington), retain Bullock and then trade Lonzo/Ingram to add talent from a re-builder. Have a cheap bench via Hart/Kuzma/Wagner. Lots of shooting/defense around Bron, and hopefully multiple year contracts that end their AD pursuit in 2020.
There needs to be a first season of LeBron not making the playoffs before he has to worry about missing it for two seasons. Having LeBron back coupled with the schedules of the Spurs and Kings while the Clippers are hanging on by a thread lead me to expect the Lakers to make it this year and even without Davis next season they have a max slot and young pieces to move for next year. Neither the Celtics or Lakers figure to resemble the personnel that they have on their teams this season.
Right, we should look the the great example set by the leaders of today's generation: our true moral compass.
With every rule are exceptions. This one obviously has unique circumstances behind it that could/should land AD somewhere other than LA. It's much easier for someone like Thon Maker's agent to get him out of Milwaukee to where he can get consistent 2nd unit minutes than it is to dictate the elite trade target be moved within conference with so much at stake.
Yeah I think the most likely scenario is that the baby King’s taper off and LeBron plays well enough to drag the Lakers to the eighth seed; and then they’ll get crushed by Golden State. If I’m LeBron I don’t know if that scenario is that much better than just missing the playoffs entirely.
Regarding the Lakers, unless Durant goes against his comments about the circus around LeBron (which also makes NY as a destination for him a question but we've already had that discussion), I find it hard to see the Lakers getting a Kawhi, who doesn't seem to want any part of the Lakeshow or a Klay Thompson.
On the latter, Luke Walton was a former coach and I strongly suspect his fate will play a large role in how seriously Thompson considers LA as a destination. While he clearly has Lakers connections, Thompson seems to realize that Golden State's system, the lockerroom and the overall Bay Area environment is a good fit for him. Anything is possible when it comes to large sums of money but I think him joining a LeBron led Lakers squad is a longshot.
For the Lakers, its pretty much AD or bust.
On the latter, Luke Walton was a former coach and I strongly suspect his fate will play a large role in how seriously Thompson considers LA as a destination. While he clearly has Lakers connections, Thompson seems to realize that Golden State's system, the lockerroom and the overall Bay Area environment is a good fit for him. Anything is possible when it comes to large sums of money but I think him joining a LeBron led Lakers squad is a longshot.
For the Lakers, its pretty much AD or bust.
Don't you think at some point boredom could factor into it for the GSW guys? Durant, in particular, seems to be itching for something new.
Agree, which is why I think it will be interesting to see what they do if/when the others choose other locales. There is a very real scenario where AD gets traded to BOS, Kawhi, Durant, Butler, Thompson, etc. all go elsewhere and the Lakers are left with the same team and a bunch of unused cap space.
Punting on a LeBron year would stink for them but I think they do it if they think AD will come in 2020 and they strike out in 2019 summer.
This summer will be nuts. Can’t wait.
Oh I think that is absolutely possible and I agree its probably why Durant appears to be inching toward the exit. Thompson, on the other hand, seems pretty comfortable in his role on the Warriors and I strongly believe he (by virtue of his NBA pedigree) is well aware of how important comfort is to an NBA career.
As a side note, I love Thompson but I think he would be much less successful in another system and without Curry. I know people here dig his game but were he asked to do more other than catch-and-shoot and play defense, I think he would disappoint people. I also think he is aware of what a great fit he is along side Steph and that will weigh heavily in his decision.
Back to Davis, I do agree with others that injuries are a risk. But he is such a great talent that you take the risk of trading a player like Tatum for him anyway. More importantly, Ainge seems to be ok with Davis' health. And in Danny I trust...
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Let’s assume Zion goes to a random team that is not expected to be in AD hunt, like the Hawks. What is the main competition for AD?
Knicks: Can offer Knox, DSJ, future picks, and probably someone in the Barrett/Reddish/Morant group. That could be compelling but not sure they do that unless a big fish like Durant is coming.
Lakers: If the Pelicans wanted their offer, they would have accepted it already.
Bulls: AD is from Chicago and Bulls can offer a high 2019 pick and guys like Markannen, Carter, etc. Are they willing to take that risk though?
Suns: Can offer a top 2019 pick and future picks but don’t have much outside Ayton and Booker who don’t figure to be made available.
Others?
There seems to be enough potential competition that Tatum is almost certainly going to be needed as the foundation for Danny’s offer.
Knicks: Can offer Knox, DSJ, future picks, and probably someone in the Barrett/Reddish/Morant group. That could be compelling but not sure they do that unless a big fish like Durant is coming.
Lakers: If the Pelicans wanted their offer, they would have accepted it already.
Bulls: AD is from Chicago and Bulls can offer a high 2019 pick and guys like Markannen, Carter, etc. Are they willing to take that risk though?
Suns: Can offer a top 2019 pick and future picks but don’t have much outside Ayton and Booker who don’t figure to be made available.
Others?
There seems to be enough potential competition that Tatum is almost certainly going to be needed as the foundation for Danny’s offer.
I can't imagine them sitting out the 2019 offseason if AD goes to Boston. Burning another Lebron year with a borderline playoff lineup is not an option. They're going to fundamentally alter that roster this summer whether it includes AD or not, and if necessary, those moves may be enough to preclude AD in 2020. Magic has to act.
I think there are too many players available for the Lakers to miss on all of them. It would be something.
Agreed. Some may not be interested at all, but plenty will. What the Lakers won't do is sit on their hands and load up with KCP/Javale types and wait on 2020 Davis. They will sign the best guys they can and I wouldn't rule out trades either.
They may not have a choice. I’m sure moves are coming but are they really going to tie up their cap 2020 space on second tier guys? Maybe. But I’m not fully convinced.
It all depends on who they can land. If they land a big guy like Durant or Kawhi, that’s your team and you forget about AD. If you’re talking second tier guys like Kemba and Cousins, the decision gets tougher, IMO.
Agreed. Tougher. Getting through half of Lebron's four year deal with a couple of one and dones seems like worst case scenario imo. I'll believe that Magic turns down Kemba/Boogie to let it ride when I see it.