An early summer 2024 thread

[wco81]

I don't even get why there's a debate. PG will turn 34 in May. They may not want to give him too many years.

However, he just had a 47.1/41.3/90.7 season in 74 games. Those shooting percentages are well above career averages.

Clippers can't replace him and they obviously gave up a lot of assets for him.

If they can't do a sign and trade, they sign him and can trade him later -- though it won't be easy given his age and the kind of salary he's likely to get. But letting an all-NBA level player just walk without getting anything in return?

What is the point of Ballmer's money?

Why wasn't he extended earlier like KL? Could he get more if he waited until the summer?

Let's say the worst case scenario, the Clippers lose in a very tough matchup in the first round. They're going to let PG walk for nothing?

How does that help the team next season and in the future?

Does tanking the next few seasons even make sense? I thought they were out of draft assets for rest of the decade.

With the big commitment to KL and the new stadium, I can't imagine that they'd let PG walk for nothing.

Clippers don't have many good choices, especially the idea of signing a soon to be 34-year old PG. And definitely past his prime Harden. But PG just had a season almost as good as or as good as his best seasons.

The KL and PG core hasn't lived up to very high expectations. But if they break up the core, when will the Clippers come close to winning over 50 games again? I don't know their young players so maybe one of them will pop into a 21-22 PPG scorer on high efficiency but if they had such a player, he'd have probably been their sixth man.

[madmaxmedia]

Yes to everything you say...but it does get dicey if he is demanding 4 full years (or 3 + player option, same difference.)

I don't even get why there's a debate. PG will turn 34 in May. They may not want to give him too many years.

However, he just had a 47.1/41.3/90.7 season in 74 games. Those shooting percentages are well above career averages.

Clippers can't replace him and they obviously gave up a lot of assets for him.

If they can't do a sign and trade, they sign him and can trade him later -- though it won't be easy given his age and the kind of salary he's likely to get. But letting an all-NBA level player just walk without getting anything in return?

What is the point of Ballmer's money?

Why wasn't he extended earlier like KL? Could he get more if he waited until the summer?

Let's say the worst case scenario, the Clippers lose in a very tough matchup in the first round. They're going to let PG walk for nothing?

How does that help the team next season and in the future?

Does tanking the next few seasons even make sense? I thought they were out of draft assets for rest of the decade.

With the big commitment to KL and the new stadium, I can't imagine that they'd let PG walk for nothing.

Clippers don't have many good choices, especially the idea of signing a soon to be 34-year old PG. And definitely past his prime Harden. But PG just had a season almost as good as or as good as his best seasons.

The KL and PG core hasn't lived up to very high expectations. But if they break up the core, when will the Clippers come close to winning over 50 games again? I don't know their young players so maybe one of them will pop into a 21-22 PPG scorer on high efficiency but if they had such a player, he'd have probably been their sixth man.

[wco81]

So what would be better for the team, 3 years total? Because 2 years is probably not enough.

Let's say he plays at all-star or better level for 2 more seasons and the other 2 seasons he has a steep decline.

At least the Clippers will be competitive the next two seasons, assuming KL doesn't break down again.

If PG walks, Clippers may be barely a play in team the next two seasons.

[wco81]

Well PG and Harden had a game for the ages but unless they can keep putting up such performances, it may not be an easy decision to extend both.

OTOH, looks like Sixers will go hard after PG so Clippers may have to bid so that they don't lose that salary slot for nothing.

[madmaxmedia]

So what would be better for the team, 3 years total? Because 2 years is probably not enough.

Let's say he plays at all-star or better level for 2 more seasons and the other 2 seasons he has a steep decline.

At least the Clippers will be competitive the next two seasons, assuming KL doesn't break down again.

If PG walks, Clippers may be barely a play in team the next two seasons.

Yeah 3 years just like Kawhi would be better, this way their contracts are in sync as well. I was actually hoping that the 2 players were sort of in agreement on it, but we'll see what happens.

I agree that 2 years is not enough, PG would leave for free agency if we only offered 2.

I'm not saying we absolutely should not sign him for 4 years though, as you say there are no great options but if we keep him we will be competitive the next 2 years. There is also the question of what James will be looking for, but as you said earlier what else would be the point of Ballmer's money?

[Captain Ballmer]

Well PG and Harden had a game for the ages but unless they can keep putting up such performances, it may not be an easy decision to extend both.

OTOH, looks like Sixers will go hard after PG so Clippers may have to bid so that they don't lose that salary slot for nothing.

If PG dedicated himself to play like Celtics Ray Allen, Klay Tkompson in 2010's or M.Porter Jr now, He would be a positive for 3 year 100 million contract extension for his age 34-35-36. Shoot 12+ 3pt attempt, grab rebounds and make deflections, don't play iso in offense. He plays iso a lot still and it's not his strength anymore. Pull-up or Catch&Shoot, 3 point shot making is his best strength but he don't accept this, get ill advised isos ends up huge miss or turnovers and get frustrated to make stupid fouls on D. His mentality needs to shift from a "two-way superstar" to an "elite shooting wing"

If our GM gave him more than this to appoint him like he's still 1b to Kawhi' 1a, then him&Ballmer still in delusion. Add Philly to that list if they offer him the max.

[madmaxmedia]

If Paul George would sign for 3 years/$100mm I'm pretty sure there'd be a list of teams out the door for that, whether it be teams with cap space now or teams that would make space for such a contract. Statistically there's been little falloff, you're probably going to get 22 and 6 for the next 2 years at pretty high efficiency. Definitely not a 1A but a #2 or #3 depending on the situation.

He's still effective going to the rim, but not pure iso's where he gets the ball, sizes up the D (which allows the D to get set as well), then try to beat his man and then 1 or 2 other guys at the rim. When he gets the ball off secondary action and drives quick, he is still really good at using his size and long arms to finish at the rim.

One of his big strengths right now is simply that he's going to be available, which is why he's going to get more than $30M per year. With Maxey's low cap hold, this is their one big chance to make a big acquisition that is going to set their table for the next 3-4 years. Ironically trading for Harden enables the Sixers to make a go at PG and will drive up his price. He is absolutely going to get no less money or years than Kawhi IMO for this reason, wherever he ends up. If Sixers can't pull a trade for someone else, Embiid/Maxey/PG would be a pretty damn good core.

[wco81]

Does PG go ISO as much if KL is playing?

Do they run off-ball actions for him, things as simple as pin downs?

Has Harden been able to get him open looks off penetration and kick?

[KL2]

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I hope they’re not hanging in to Lue because of fear him going to the Lakers.

[JustBuzzin]

A PG for Miles Bridges sign n trade how you feeling?

[esqtvd]

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I hope they’re not hanging in to Lue because of fear him going to the Lakers.

Ty might not be the right coach for the Clippers, but the problem these days is that for many teams [Clippers, Lakers, Bucks, Sixers, Bulls, etc.], nobody is.

Longtimers Kerr and Spoelstra are outside looking in. Without the horses--even with Wemby--Popovich went 22-60.

[KL2]

They really running it all back with fingers crossed.

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[madmaxmedia]

I think Ty is the least of their concerns, he can get older and it won't matter.

[MartinToVaught]

They love the job Lue did this season? What job? Giving PJ minutes because he whined loudly enough? Refusing to develop anyone under 30? No adjustments other than small-ball that doesn't work anymore? Lue's done nothing since Kenny left to warrant an extension. He should have been fired after last season for the Morris/RoCo mess. This is the type of move you make when you're more concerned with trolling the Lakers than winning.

[LamarWho]

Great. Gonna be stuck with Doc 2.0 for who knows how long. Ty Lue and Kawhi are made for each other. Kawhi is always hurt when the team needs him the most, and Ty Lue will benefit from that when the team underachieves.

[nickhx2]

I think Ty is the least of their concerns, he can get older and it won't matter.

if ty lue is our biggest issue in 2 years then it's a good problem to have (relatively). because the problem we don't WANT to have but likely will have will be 2-3 aging stars making big monies, producing far less than we'd need to compete for championships, surrounded by fringe talent with no potential, with few resources or draft picks to get us back to something enjoyable.

but unfortunately, that's the most likely scenario staring at us in the face, so yeah.

[KL2]

I think Ty is the least of their concerns, he can get older and it won't matter.

He's a yes man. The same disdain for draft picks and playing more than 2 players under 30 at the same time. Finding new ways to get older and slower. If they’re from SoCal even better.

I never want to hear how Lue plays chess while everyone else plays checkers.

Woj says the team wants to get PG and Harden locked up too.

Nothings going to change. They’re going to keep running it back until all the wheels fall off.

[MartinToVaught]

At this point, Ballmer might be the biggest problem. His bravado about never rebuilding, never building through the draft and just trying to buy titles is going to keep this franchise stuck in eternal mediocrity until he either changes his mind or sells the team.

[Sofia]

Maybe if the Lakers want Lue we can get a draft pick out them, ala the Doc acquisition.

Who am I kidding, we wouldn’t develop them anyway.

[KL2]

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