Kyrie Irving should be primary FA target

[Pythagoras]

Under the radar we should really look at Malcom Brogdon. Finally got a few chances to see him play and I really like his game, just solid all around. He's the type of piece that works well on a championship roster. 50/40/90 guy that plays tough D, can handle PG duties, and is 26? Sign me up. Could probably get him for cheaper then Klay, though I'd probably take Klay still but if the big names go crazy and go to NY and other places I think we could do well with just keeping our core, sign Brogdon, Cousins, and some better fitting bench and roll with that.

Landing Brogdon and Cousins would be awesome, but I doubt it happens. There’s probably a number the Bucks aren’t willing to go to to match Brogdon, but by the time we get there we probably won’t have enough cap space left to outbid everyone else for Cousins. I DO like your idea of adding two impact players however.

[supaflash]

Yeah I don't know how much the Bucks can bid though, considering they just gave Bledsoe that big deal and they have a lot of money on the books AND have to pay Middleton. Brogdon makes sense because they have DiVincenzo to replace him. We could probably get BroLo back too for not too much, losing him still angers me... He's from Cali and signed a 1 year 3.5 mil deal...

The biggest problem I see this summer is there are too many targets and you have to move quickly, its going to make things a bit messy. I wish no one could actually commit to signing anything during the negotiation window so you could lay out a firmer plan of options to a few more guys.

[nzahir]

Under the radar we should really look at Malcom Brogdon. Finally got a few chances to see him play and I really like his game, just solid all around. He's the type of piece that works well on a championship roster. 50/40/90 guy that plays tough D, can handle PG duties, and is 26? Sign me up. Could probably get him for cheaper then Klay, though I'd probably take Klay still but if the big names go crazy and go to NY and other places I think we could do well with just keeping our core, sign Brogdon, Cousins, and some better fitting bench and roll with that.

So our big splash is now Brogdon?

He will likely get 15-20M a year. No more max spot.

Dream scenario: Sign Kawhi/KD/Kyrie/Klay/Butler/Kemba and trade for AD

Great scenarios:
1) Sign Kawhi/KD/Kyrie/Klay and keep young guys or move 1 for a win now piece
2) Sign depth and some nice pieces like Brodgon and a couple others and then trade for AD

If we end up signing just Jimmy or Kemba then we are in tough shape for another year. Still have chance to sign AD next year, but another year wasted. And now BI has to be traded to have cap space for AD next year I believe. Lonzo would have to also be moved for salary. Could keep Kuzma though. Big 4 of AD, Jimmy, Lebron, Kuzma. Not bad, but wasted another year

[Pythagoras]

The biggest problem I see this summer is there are too many targets and you have to move quickly, its going to make things a bit messy.

100% Agree. This is one of the deepest FA classes in memory and Magic simply cannot afford to come out of it empty handed given Ingram’s looming extension next offseason.

Beyond that, I doubt LeBron and Magic want to kick the can down another season anyway.

[brianmc]

I can't see him coming to LA... he buried the hatchet with Lebron but he didn't forget it's not all sunshine and rainbows being Lebron's teammate. What's in it for Kyrie? Getting pulled into a bad situation along side a guy he clashed with previously. It's not like if he teams up with Lebron, the Lakers are the favorites to win it all. The Lakers aren't even his best option in Los Angeles.

[Magic Is Magic]

We are in dire of need shooters and scorers plus he did gel well enough with Bron to win a magnificent chip in good ol' 2016.

But who does the other max contract slot belong to? Anthony Davis?

[Magic Is Magic]

I can't see him coming to LA... he buried the hatchet with Lebron but he didn't forget it's not all sunshine and rainbows being Lebron's teammate. What's in it for Kyrie? Getting pulled into a bad situation along side a guy he clashed with previously. It's not like if he teams up with Lebron, the Lakers are the favorites to win it all. The Lakers aren't even his best option in Los Angeles.

I do remember him saying he wanted to be in the spotlight and to be the "man" on the next team he goes to and with LeBron showing signs of slowing down (he is human after all?!) I don't think L.A. is a bad fit for him at all. Uncle Drew would thrive in Los Angeles.

[chefy12]

Helllllll yessss

[TyCobb]

So we just got a first hand account of the LeBron mentality. Now his disciple is pulling the same exact **** in Boston. We want this guy... because??? He is injury prone as ****, and I doubt even Durant wants to team up with his depressed ass in NY anymore.

I don't think we should double down on the headache and go full migraine. This team needs a shooter, plain and simple. You go Durant > Thompson > Leonard.

[Kilroy]

So we just got a first hand account of the LeBron mentality. Now his disciple is pulling the same exact **** in Boston. We want this guy... because??? He is injury prone as ****, and I doubt even Durant wants to team up with his depressed ass in NY anymore.

I don't think we should double down on the headache and go full migraine. This team needs a shooter, plain and simple. You go Durant > Thompson > Leonard.

Yeah, I'm not sure I get the mutual love fest either... Other than the only way I think Kyrie reaches out to LeBron like he did would be because he knew AD was coming... Otherwise, where's the upside?

So maybe that's why he's looking like such a douche in Boston right now... Maybe it's part of the plan to tank Boston in AD's eyes and work his way to LA...

I don't want LeBron/Kyrie... But if I gotta have LeBron, I'm not sure there's a better combo of talent than AD/LeBron/Kyrie that we could have... Unless Klay instead of Kyrie was an option and we could keep Ball...

In any case, Kyrie had better be far from our 'primary target.'

[Landsberger]

Beggars can't be choosers. Any notable FA that shows an ounce of interest in the Lakers needs to be priority-ONE.

Sadly this. I actually think Kawhi is more realistic than Kyrie. But if we miss out on the K boys - Klay, KD, Kyrie, and Kawhi, then I still think Cousins or Butler are gonna be high targets.

Not sure Cousins or Butler get us any closer to anything. Cousins is still vastly overrated and now fragile. Butler hasn't made any of his teams better.... just gets stats and wants the spotlight.

An under the radar center to get who would actually fit well would be Nikola Vucevic. He's good offensively and decent defensively, he rebounds and is marginally physical. He's very smart and doesn't want to be "the guy". He Kuzma, Ingram, Bron and say.... Kyrie would make a pretty potent starting 5. Shooting and all can play a motion style. I think adding stars just because they are stars is a dangerous way to go about this. Nothing out there indicates that Kawhi and Bron could coexist. They play a very similar game.

[Pythagoras]

Beggars can't be choosers. Any notable FA that shows an ounce of interest in the Lakers needs to be priority-ONE.

Sadly this. I actually think Kawhi is more realistic than Kyrie. But if we miss out on the K boys - Klay, KD, Kyrie, and Kawhi, then I still think Cousins or Butler are gonna be high targets.

Not sure Cousins or Butler get us any closer to anything. Cousins is still vastly overrated and now fragile. Butler hasn't made any of his teams better.... just gets stats and wants the spotlight.

An under the radar center to get who would actually fit well would be Nikola Vucevic. He's good offensively and decent defensively, he rebounds and is marginally physical. He's very smart and doesn't want to be "the guy". He Kuzma, Ingram, Bron and say.... Kyrie would make a pretty potent starting 5. Shooting and all can play a motion style. I think adding stars just because they are stars is a dangerous way to go about this. Nothing out there indicates that Kawhi and Bron could coexist. They play a very similar game.

Cousins would hardly be my ideal target, but if Magic is calling the shots I think he’s going to look hard at him. Butler is a diva but he absolutely does make a team better. The Timberwolves being the latest perfect example.

As far as fits with LeBron, he’s always played a style that doesn’t necessarily lend itself to a good fit with other good wings. I think that’s what played a big part in Ingram’s early struggles... That, and poor roster construction. Either way Kawhi is talented enough that you roll the dice on him and worry about fit later.

As far as Vuc. He is going to command a huge contract this season. We’re not going to be able to sign a Max guy AND add a guy like Vuc. Now I personally wouldn’t be opposed to adding Vuc and another impact player, like Rudy Gay or someone else like that. Unfortunately, this FO doesn’t appear to value the non-max level 2nd and 3rd tier FAs, unless they’re willing to sign a 1 year deal.

[Landsberger]

Sadly this. I actually think Kawhi is more realistic than Kyrie. But if we miss out on the K boys - Klay, KD, Kyrie, and Kawhi, then I still think Cousins or Butler are gonna be high targets.

Not sure Cousins or Butler get us any closer to anything. Cousins is still vastly overrated and now fragile. Butler hasn't made any of his teams better.... just gets stats and wants the spotlight.

An under the radar center to get who would actually fit well would be Nikola Vucevic. He's good offensively and decent defensively, he rebounds and is marginally physical. He's very smart and doesn't want to be "the guy". He Kuzma, Ingram, Bron and say.... Kyrie would make a pretty potent starting 5. Shooting and all can play a motion style. I think adding stars just because they are stars is a dangerous way to go about this. Nothing out there indicates that Kawhi and Bron could coexist. They play a very similar game.

Cousins would hardly be my ideal target, but if Magic is calling the shots I think he’s going to look hard at him. Butler is a diva but he absolutely does make a team better. The Timberwolves being the latest perfect example.

As far as fits with LeBron, he’s always played a style that doesn’t necessarily lend itself to a good fit with other good wings. I think that’s what played a big part in Ingram’s early struggles... That, and poor roster construction. Either way Kawhi is talented enough that you roll the dice on him and worry about fit later.

As far as Vuc. He is going to command a huge contract this season. We’re not going to be able to sign a Max guy AND add a guy like Vuc. Now I personally wouldn’t be opposed to adding Vuc and another impact player, like Rudy Gay or someone else like that. Unfortunately, this FO doesn’t appear to value the non-max level 2nd and 3rd tier FAs, unless they’re willing to sign a 1 year deal.

With all of the guys out there a guy like Vuc might slip under the radar.... at least I hope. From what I'm seeing with Bron as he ages a guy like him in the middle would be the perfect fit.

That said, he's not a marketable player and it seems like we're wanting name recognition more than anything else.

Kawhi would be a great get and then Ingram becomes currency to fill another hole it would seem. I'd be OK with that as well. This summer will be so crucial to the next 5 years. I don't see a second chance to get to a championship level in Bron's window. The youth and him isn't getting there (or even close is seems) and everyone we supposedly want will supplant at least one of the young guys so we could be a very different team next year.

[Ballerhogger]

he will be targeted.

[AGAVE]

So we just got a first hand account of the LeBron mentality. Now his disciple is pulling the same exact **** in Boston. We want this guy... because??? He is injury prone as ****, and I doubt even Durant wants to team up with his depressed ass in NY anymore.

I don't think we should double down on the headache and go full migraine. This team needs a shooter, plain and simple. You go Durant > Thompson > Leonard.

Ty...
Enjoy your reads but this time, although KD-KT-KL sounds great, how long before KD & KL become unsatisfied here.
KI would be a franchise player to build around for years; hopefully attracting others to play here.
An AD-KI combination would be a tandem for years; of which this franchise is desperately needing currently.
I'm more for either making Ball a permanent 6'th man or dealing him then retain Rondo on one year deals.
Klay would be an amazing fit into this but no one knows what may happen this off season.
Bullock, Williams, Kuz, Wagner id prefer to keep.
Filling in the rest will be the test for the FO.

[Dr Aki]

[ROballer]

I said it during the Davis saga. You get Kyrie, you also get Davis.
No way Boston stays in the sweepstakes without Kyrie, because they know Davis ain't staying there with basically Hayward and Horford left after they need to gut out the roster in the deal.


We're the only ones realistically left. I don't buy NY at all. And we have the leverage this time, we can keep some youth in the package, it won't be all the goddamn roster. To match Davis' salary, by the current trading rules we would need to send 21.7 mil in salaries to NO.
Ingram/Ball/Wagner and our pick is enough to get to that number. Not a dime more. NO would be stupid not to take that anyway.

I'm 85% sure next year's team starts with Kyrie, Lebron and Davis.

[Lakers In 5]

I used to be a fan of Irving, but he seems to be an injury prone cancer. Well the latter might not be a problem with James being there to keep him in check, but the fountain of youth is going to run out at some point and long term, Kyrie is not someone I'd like to have on my books. Would it be worth it if he helped bring our franchise another championship? Yes. But there's no guarantees.

I have a lot of friends and family in Ohio, who have been Cavaliers fans as long as I can remember, and they have been telling me for quite a while that these cancerous stories coming from Boston sound all so familiar. Pre LeBron's return to Cleveland, Kyrie was asked to lead those Cavalier teams and it was just a mess. The locker room was feuding 24/7, 365 and Kyrie was more bothered fighting Dion Waiters than he was winning games. On one hand, you'd like to give him a pass because he was young and their team was young, but at the same time reading and hearing the stories coming from the Celtics' locker room, it seems like he hasn't learned anything nor changed at all. That is a big red flag.