Bird in hand worth 2 in bush?

Vae Victus · Post #1 » by **Vae Victus** » Mon Aug 27, 2018 6:23 am

Lets say TOR has an EPIC year, Kawhi is balling like a mofo looking like his top 3 in the league self, winning DPoY, and even winning the MVP by leading TOR to like 67 wins. They were smashing the East to bits, then won a 6/7 game series against a healthy BOS squad, but still get pasted by the Dubs.

MIN has a disappointing year as the youth just arent getting any better and while Jimmy Butler, fully healthy, is playing like a superstar (finishing top 8 in MVP vote, 2nd Team All NBA) and still leads em to a top 4/5 seed, they lose in the 1st round (hehe to guess who) in disappointing fashion.

LAL had a GREAT year with the youth all stepping up and improving, Lebron actually taking a bit of a backseat in the regular season letting the kids fill into their roles, but being all gangbusters in the playoffs when needed. Lebron leads us to 53-55 wins to a top 4/5 seed where we knock out MIN, then have a tough 6/7 game series against GSW. Basically the Lakers finally realizing our dream of an up and coming squad with oodles of potential.

FA is now upon us. Jimmy Butler and his agent has contacted us covertly and basically said this, "we will sign at midnight when FA opens. We know you'll figure a way to get rid of Deng's deal, but we will sign at midnight as a show of good faith to help lure more ring chasers or even the Deng dump negotiations (by reducing other teams leverage on us). However we'd like an answer no later than 24 hours after FA begins, if we dont get an answer, then we know you dont think my client is a star and he'll be offended and likely to sign with PHI who has shown unparalleled fervor in chasing my client and having an excellent plan in place." Lets say PHI had a great year as Simmons and Embiid lead them to the 3rd seed and barely losing to the healthy BOS squad in the 2nd round.

Kawhi's camp otoh has been utterly enigmatic. Kawhi has been treated like a god in TOR and showered massive love, after singlehandedly delivering them to the Finals, there has been a... noticeable effect on Kawhi's camp. Uncle Dennis is waffling not giving a straight answer in the secret illegal backroom meetings that Maginka are artfully conducting. Maginka is leaning hard on the fact that by adding Kawhi's awesomeness to Lebron (who hasnt slowed down one bit as shown in the playoffs) and all the excellence shown by the young Lakers (who did most of the heavy lifting as the 1 year expiring vets mostly got benched, i'm talking Josh Hart stealing KCP's lunch and outright taking the starting job level of badassery growth), is a very very very strong team with a good chance of beating GSW, who loses Boogie due to him proven being healthy. Kawhi's camp states that their hired analysts predict off court benefits/endorsements between TOR/LAL are similar, including factoring the extra pay that Kawhi gets resigning with TOR (IE this is basically me saying that both TOR/LAL off court bribes are equalized, assume TOR will step up their game to match us).

You are Maginka. Do you just take the guaranteed star in Butler or do you try your luck with Kawhi. Assume ring chaser quality will be equal no matter which player you get.

Adding Butler makes for a strong af team, that for at least 2 more years will be amazing, by year 3 both Lebron and Butler's age might catch up to them.

Adding Kawhi makes for an almost epic all time team (especially if the kids keep getting better). Kawhi has been nothing short of amazing and will keep on trucking for the length of his contract easily and able to bridge the post Lebron era with the team likely barely losing step. However... Kawhi's camp is being all tight lipped and stuff and not being so gung ho to LA as they were before he got traded to TOR.

Willing to roll the dice?

My gut instinct, sign Butler, and guarantee to compete hard the next coupla years. Rely on the kids to grow on their own and expect one of them to become that 3rd star, failing that, i make a package for a 3rd star (can someone say SupaBrow! LOL). Personally i'd try to trade Deng + SRP + cash for Feliciano from the Bulls so that we basically chop that deal in half and not need to stretch him. Then we have the option to use Feliciano's salary as filler in a 3rd star trade down the line (Feliciano + Ingram + Kuzma or Hart + FRP) type of package. That might just be enough for SupaBrow...

Dr Aki · Post #2 » by **Dr Aki** » Mon Aug 27, 2018 1:12 pm

the good thing about the moratorium is that you can ditch the 8/10 girl for the 10/10 girl

well, that's assuming we're playing by the rules.

hopefully magic will have his tentacles coiled out around kawhi beforehand

Post #3 » by **snaquille oatmeal** » Mon Aug 27, 2018 2:08 pm

I skipped that NY times periodical

stan francisco · Post #4 » by **stan francisco** » Tue Aug 28, 2018 1:18 am

What kind of birds and whose bush?

Landsberger · Post #5 » by **Landsberger** » Tue Aug 28, 2018 2:29 am

Cliff notes please.....

hoosierdaddy34 · Post #6 » by **hoosierdaddy34** » Tue Aug 28, 2018 5:33 am

Landsberger wrote:Cliff notes please.....

Butler or Kawhi

lakerz12 · Post #7 » by **lakerz12** » Tue Aug 28, 2018 8:14 am

hoosierdaddy34 wrote:
Landsberger wrote:Cliff notes please.....

Butler or Kawhi

Kawhi

Vae Victus · Post #8 » by **Vae Victus** » Wed Aug 29, 2018 2:38 am

Sigh... this whole acting all dismissive and **** on the internet and pretending it's sophistication is just so high school and annoying these days.

100% guaranteed Butler

or

50% chance to get Kawhi and no Butler if you elect to go after Kawhi

ILC · Post #9 » by **ILC** » Wed Aug 29, 2018 10:13 am

I don't think Wolves will be that good this year. Too much power struggle in the team, Jimmy doesn't like playing with Wiggins, nobody likes Thibs etc. If they're not clear-cut top 4 team by the deadline I think they will deal Butler for the best offer.

Lonzo + Deng for Jimmy, then trade KCP for Dedmon or someone like that. That creates almost 70 million in cap space for next summer I think. Use one slot to re-sign Butler, the other for a max FA or fill with really good role players who can shoot and defend.

For this season's POs: Rondo, Butler, Ingram, LBJ, Dedmon, Kuzma, Hart, Beasley, McGee, Lance...that's a great team that matches up really well vs GS.

danfantastk32 · Post #10 » by **danfantastk32** » Thu Aug 30, 2018 5:33 am

Vae Victus wrote:Sigh... this whole acting all dismissive and **** on the internet and pretending it's sophistication is just so high school and annoying these days.

I write some longer posts myself....and I'm like 'Christ people! It's less than a third of a page in any book on your shelf.'

I personally don't mind the comments. I find the internet kinda charming. But the bar has been set sadly low for what constitutes a "novel" these days. I mean honestly folks, that was a 40 second read.

danfantastk32 · Post #11 » by **danfantastk32** » Thu Aug 30, 2018 5:39 am

As to your post....I personally don't rate Butler that high, so my opinion is skewed.

Simply put....I don't think Butler wins us a title. So it's a waste of time. Kawhi, on the other hand, can be a huge piece in a title-winning team. He's worth waiting for.

There are certainly worse things than signing Butler, don't get me wrong. But I'd wait and try to get Kawhi. If we miss out on Butler, it won't haunt my dreams at night.