You're ensuring you get the guy. George has said his preference is LA, but it's no guarantee. If you trade for him now, you are basically locking a 27 year old perennial all-star in for the foreseeable future. 27 and 28 aren't worth much. Most years you can flat out buy picks at that part of the draft. You could end up getting contributors there, but more likely they won't be anything worthwhile. Clarkson is an ok bench player, but you're clearing his salary to open up more room for max slots next year. The only player that really hurts there is Randle, and I'm not sure he'll ever be better than a good role player. He's had his moments, but is it worth it to keep him and tempt fate with PG? That trade in a vacuum is a steal for a player like Paul George. And while he very well could come to the Lakers in free agency next year, ask yourself this question. If a team like the Celtics or Heat trade for him, and convince him to stay, would it have been worth it to play hard ball, and not give that package up? If I were LA, I would be willing to give up more to lock him in.
You ready for an insane Gordon Hayward plot twist..... Apparently his free agency is affecting the race for Jason Chaffetz's open house seat in Utah. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/...Jazz-star-Gordon-Hayward-I-hope-he-stays.html Yes, you read that right. Danny Ainge's son is running in the Republican primary and his dad's pursuit of Hayward has become an issue that may hurt his campaign. Unbelievable.
I don't see even average athleticism with Kennard. Which is a bigger deal because his wingspan is so damn short: I wouldn't be upset if length is the sole reason we passed on him. It's an issue when he tries to recover on defense after he gets beat (often). It prohibits him from becoming even okay at finishing in the paint. And it's just as big a problem when he tries to rebound (ugh). He's a poor man's Devin Booker, missing speed and length. But damn can he shoot the freaking ball in any action/set cause his release is so tight and quick. He can be an initiator with a bench unit, running some PnR, making decisions. Question is whether he can avoid being a total liability on defense. At this point NBA teams would just put a bullseye on him every possession. That said though, I'm cool with him at 14 depending on how things fall. CK has the right idea just hoping one of the top 11ish guys falls to 14. After that it's tough to tell who's best of that next group. I'm very high on Ntilikina fitting with the HEAT. The kid needs to do some serious work on his body, and this training staff would maximize that process. He would be a huge get tomorrow.
I agree with you that it looks that way, but I know that he's been impressive in his testing and workouts when it comes to athleticism. So it's there. The thing about him is this is a guy that was the leading scorer on a team with Jason Tatum and Grayson Allen. That says something. He also wasn't just a spot up shooter. He can create.
If anything, Hayward is way underrated. Which is understandable since nobody watches Utah. He had a higher PER than Paul George
He also suffers from biases (if you know what I mean). The guy is a VERY good defender as well, and NOBODY ever says it. EVER.
Scoring and rebounding. Same 2 things hes always been good at. Any drop off in Melos numbers imo is more due to his level of engagement with the team which i would argue is not as consistent as it needs to be. But if you watch game in and game the only real differencr between now and 2 - 3 years ago is that Anthony isnt as explosive as he once was.
But...the numbers say that Hayward is a better scorer (NOW) IN fact, the only thing Melo is proving to be consistently better than Hayward is rebounding. Hayward is a 8-9% TRB% guy. Melo is consistently around 10-12% (although he dropped to 9.3% this year). Remember that we are arguing about a 33 year old guy vs. a 26 year old guy. The 26 year old guy will get better.
I certainly wouldn't cry if the Heat took Wake Forest's John Collins. I'd be curious about whether they think he's got a good enough basketball IQ to develop, but there's something to be said for possibly over-thinking things a bit on a big that can score in as many ways as he can, while also being a fantastic rebounder.
I'm a self admitted idiot and if I'm the Lakers I make that trade Paul George is good enough to put a bad team on his back, In recent history I may be wrong but have late first round picks really turned in to anything in the league? There is obviously a few exceptions. Jordan Clarkson is he a good player? No doubt but I don't think he makes a team better and Julius Randle I think is just a giant question mark. Then at 2 take Ball I think he is going to be a star. Sg I know Reddick is going to be a free agent is it a flashy name no but I think he can hold his own until something else comes along.
Yea if im the lakers i go after PG now. Get PG, pray Lonzo pans out to be a star. Add another all star next year, add filler.. and youre on your way up again
Think of Clarkson as kind of like Josh Richardson. Not exactly the same type of player but as far as value, I'd say similar. Clarkson might be a little better now, and J-Rich might have a little more upside.
If Paul George was about 2 years younger and had about 3 years left on his deal there is no way Indiana does that trade, thats why i thinks it a steal for LA to just trade Clarkson and Randle and a late pick or two for George.
I didn't see this but apparently Windhorst the Hutt accused the Heat of "illegally tampering" before free agency on ESPN.
Whatever. I hope we did, just like everyone else. I'm sure Magic Johnson hasn't had a single communication with PG's representatives. Right
Tampering....HA! I do not know why they pretend to police it. I remember back when we had the LeBron coming home drama, being a little leery of how easy the Cavs re-signed Kyrie irving. It just seemed a little too easy to me at the time.
Skolnick saying that Heat are getting lots of calls in Dragic but have turned them all down Including the Pacers
We need to realize just how good we were in the 2nd half of the season. I'm very fine with keeping the squad and going after Gordon and adding a prospect at 14.
Sometimes the best moves are no moves... look at the **** the Lakers have done, moved Mozgov's contract after just one season, and now begging teams to take on Deng.. but his contract is terrible.. If we arent going to get an all star in return, keep the core intact, see if Hayward will come, grab a player at 14. I trust our scouts will find someone at 14 that will contribute.
When the Lakers have #2 Overall + Randle + P. George + Westbrook/Lebron + lottery pick in 18' this move will be one of the biggest reasons why.
I expected the numbers to say that. It doesn't make it so. You need to win a single game, you'd rather have Gordon Hayward over Carmelo Anthony? I wouldn't.
Then I would still go with Hayward. I just would. Age has caught up with that entire draft class even Lebron.
This so makes me hope that Lebron assembles all these old guys and they try to compete LOL. They would all be hurt and not want to play the regular season.
Signing Mozgov and Deng had nothing to do with that. They made those moves for no reason and are having to do what they can to move those contracts. They also won't have a lotto pick in 2018. It will go to the Celtics via the 76ers.
He looked great...on one end of the court. That's how he is seeking to defeat Father Time. Father Time will come for that part of his game later on.
Sure, so when aliens come to end civilization and challenge us to a single game, we will bring Melo off the bench at the #4. I am not trying to win a single game. We play 82, then best of 7 series' in the playoffs. Remember that I like Melo...but you would have to be an irresponsible GM to take him over a 26 year old Hayward.
Hayward really had a huge year this past year. Won 51 games...won a round in the playoffs. and what did he have? he had a one dimensional Def. Center in Goebert, the corpse of Joe Johnson, and league wide favorite reject George Hill as his top offensive teammates.
