Russell is polarizing too. He's still only 21 and does some things you like, but I don't think I make that trade. I guess if you are convinced he can be a PG and/or his shooting is going to improve. The fact the Lakers decided to sit him and start Jordan Clarkson to prove a point says something too. Does Russell really have that much value around the league he would go for a top 5 lottery pick?
I'm not a huge Russell fan but he may be a better fit in Philly as a secondary ball handler. His shooting needs to get better but I think some of that is shot selection. He has shot 35% from 3 point land the past 2 years so pretty solid there.
I've heard that Dallas has interest but doesn't want to give up the #9 pick to get him. My guess is he could snag a lottery pick, but not something in the top five.
Seems like trading down for Monk would make the most sense for Philly. If on draft night the Lakers don't take Ball, maybe that Sixers pick becomes more valuable and a team like Sacramento or Minnesota would move another asset of value to move up from 5 or 7 to get him. I doubt the Kings would do 5+10 for 3 though. Although the Rockets once traded 13, 18 and 23 for 7.
OTOH, I'd trade the 9th pick for him all day if I were the Mavs. I'm not sure they'll get a player with more upside than Russell at 9. Gamble that he takes a step forward and even if he doesn't, he probably ends up better than who is selected at 9 anyway. If I were Sacramento, I'd move the 10 for him too.
I wonder how much of that is actually true, and if it is true, what the 6 picks were. 4 could have "potentially" been 1st round picks. Which picks? I think Danny knew what he had with the Nets pick.
http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2017/6/14/15798954/la-lakers-draft-rumors-lonzo-ball-josh-jackson-nba-reports-news-ucla-kansas-split
I don't know how a team can look at today's NBA and think they can win with subpar defenders like Russell and Ball. I teams are going to run PnRs to get one of them in a mismatch and then the entire defense breaks down. Even the 'Zards - whose guards are as talented offensively as any two in the league - are finding out that they can't beat the Cs, much less the Cavs or the Ws, with guards who can't fight through PnRs and don't really make the necessary rotations all of the time.
I'm guessing that the next shoe to drop is Indiana agreeing to eat the terrible Deng contract in exchange for #2 and one of the forwards. That would leave the Lakers approximately $55 million in cap space to put talent around PG next summer, which wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.
Much of it is Magic putting HIS stamp on the team by moving the previous administrations personnel sooner rather than later. Another part is that Russell has not only been erratic on the floor, which is expected of a young PG, but that he has quickly earned the reputation as an undeserving prima donna who doesn't have the necessary work ethic to take his game up several notches. The third is that Magic may really really like Lonzo Ball's game as his ball movement and passing is a throwback to Magic's time. Naturally the 4th part which is the priority is to have the opportunity to bring George on ASAP and LeBron next summer......I feel too many people here are not taking this as a legitimate possibility. I'm almost thinking it is not only a possibility but now that Gilbert is again running LeBron out of town as an actual probability.
I suspect you will get plenty of moments to laugh at a 20 year old rookie point guard this upcoming season.
A move to LA would be about off the court stuff. Guy is trying to build up his brand to an MJ like level. Playing in a bigger market and being in LA helps all that. He obviously gets plenty of exposure in Cleveland but being the "King of LA" or whatever would be even better for him.
Everything regarding Lebron to LA seems to stem from this article that appeared on the Ringer after the NBA Finals: https://theringer.com/2017-nba-finals-lebron-james-cleveland-cavaliers-los-angeles-lakers-clippers-25e353094845
I think you are forgetting Ingram. Assuming minimal progression from Ingram, I would take LBJ, PG, and Ingram over LBJ, Irving, and Love against GSW (not for the regular season but the regular season doesn't matter). LBJ, PG, and Ingram are long enough defensively to give GSW some problems.
He's also forgetting Lopez or someone else if they are able to move Deng. Pretty sure I read where if they trade for George this year, they can come pretty close to signing 2 max guys. Cousins/James/George would be pretty sick. Lopez/James/George is a pretty good trio too.
This isn't close to correct. The Lakers would have to stretch Deng, renounce Lopez, renounce Randle and move Clarkson without taking back any salary to get in the range of signing just James and George to max deals. There are different ways to get there, especially if they can get someone to eat the Deng contract outright, but it won't be enough to keep Lopez or add anyone else of significant value if they are intent on keeping Ingram and Ball.
The previous tweet before that indicated that they'd have to renounce Brook as well.
I don't really believe this is true. Mozgov is a serviceable big on a comparable contract to other serviceable 5's and easy to move. The Lakers prior administration had a plan to surround it's young players with some veterans like Mozgov and Deng to hopefully speed up the maturation process similar to the Wizards early in Wall's career when they acquired Ariza, Nene and Okafor during a small window when they woudn't be competing for the playoffs.
He did show improvement, but let's be realistic -- he was benched and then moved to off guard. For a guy who was lauded for his on court intelligence and vision coming into the draft he displayed very little of that. I think Russell will end up being a solid player, but the Lakers made the right call in using him as a chip in dumping the Mozgov contract. It isn't that the new regime doesn't want holdovers, but that they had to choose which holdovers to keep or not. They probably made the right choice.
Lowe and Arnovitz discussed Russell on latest Lowe Post, Arnovitz alluded to a lot of negative commentary from people in the Laker's organization (whom he respects) regarding Russell. I believe one of the observations was along the lines of "how much more can we dumb down the offense". There was also reference to poor work ethic etc.
Celtics should tank this year. I don't want to choose between Doncic, Ayton, and Porter. I want them ALL!
"The number 3 pick in the 2018 NBA draft goes to...
Why are you the way you are?
