Will NO regret not taking the Lakers offer?

[JC28]

Because Rich Paul and Lebron messed around with the future of the New Orleans franchise, and Demps listening to Pop by not negotiating with them, I hope NO will not get as much in return. If Lonzo, Kuzma, Ingram, Hart, Zubac plus multiple first rounders are not enough...something is wrong. The Pelicans are basically saying- F you to the Lakers and we wont trade him to you because of what you did. I personally think in terms of just the trade and the players +picks, involved that it is more than enough. If these guys were on a different team and that was the package offered, they would have accepted it in a heartbeat.

Nothing is wrong, on paper it seems like a lot. In context what is NOP really supposed to do with that? Pretty much every single one of those assets needs to be flipped in an attempt to secure an impact player/mid-level lottery pick. Every other team will know this as well so they flip AD for .75 on the dollar and then have to turn around and flip that .75 for .50.

I'm not saying it's a terrible deal. Just that it's a collection of parts with no real direction. If NOP was looking to become a treadmill team then sure take it. That'll get you a good bit of the way there. If not then it doesn't make a lot of sense.

[QRich3]

There’s no incentive for Ainge to overpay for AD. It’s far more likely he’ll underpay. I don’t see the Celtics giving up Tatum in a bidding war against other teams, such as the Clippers or Knicks.

If Ainge doesn't overpay for AD then he's not getting AD.

Yup, he's been preparing for this moment since he traded KG and Pierce away. He's not risking letting the moment go by for some misguided sense of pride. None of these guys do, they are all acting from a business perspective, as much as some of the LA media will try to tell you otherwise.

The Lakers offer not only will be there in July, it will probably be improved. And it will probably still not be one of the 3 best offers the Pelicans are gonna receive then.

[kobe808lak]

I'm shocked people actually thing Ainge is going to trade Tatum and all their picks for a rental. I think NO is in for a rude awakening. It will be to a team not mentioned yet for a weird return... and probably in the East.

[heatwillbeback]

I don’t know if the offers will be better in the offseason but it makes business sense to wait in these three ways:

1. Wait till all the teams involved can make their offers. This is a basic business proposition. Know all the options before making a deal. Obviously this is in regards to Boston joining the fray this offseason.

2. It makes sense to see what pick the Knicks get, and if a deal could be worked out with them. As of now, trading for the pick you could get anywhere between 1 and 10. You wait till the lottery and you can make a much more informed decision on that pick. Obviously if it’s 1 NY might be less likely to trade it, but this is AD we are talking about and he is simply a generational talent. The point is you trade for that pick now who knows what you are getting. You know exactly what the offer is if you wait.

3. I doubt the laker offer changes. They can try to convince us that they can get AD as a free agent, but anybody with half a brain cell knows that they don’t want to wait another year and a half. Lebron will be 36 when AD is a free agent. Lebron doesn’t have the patience to wait this out.

[whysoserious]

Boston has the best young player to offer in a trade in Tatum. I wouldn't discount what the Lakers have on the table, Ball, Ingram and Kuz are solid young guys with varying degrees of potential. But it's also not a blow away deal that should be taken hands down.

Boston, Lakers, Clippers, NY can all put compelling offers on the table. For the Pels, the Lakers pieces aren't going away so why do a deal now unless you're blown away. Wait till the draft and get as many people bidding as possible.

[Effigy]

Who will offer the most for AD?

Do you guys think Lakers will cover AD the most this offseason when they have the cap flexibility to add a max FA without trading an asset?

Of course. The plan was never just LeBron and AD. They wanted a third guy. They will still try to make both happen.

[Buzzard]

I don't think Boston, LA, and NYC are the only options; and I think the Pelicans are being smart by waiting.

[Lawyershawn]

D'Angelo Russell and Julius Randle as Lakers = Busts and unappealing role players.
D'Angelo Russell and Julius Randle as non-Lakers = All-Star and All-Star Potential.

No surprise that RealGM users revert to their old behavior of trashing anyone on the Lakers as a bust/scrub.

[Karate Diop]

I mean what were they really getting from the Lakers?

Lonzo - A point guard with upside who has a fatal flaw for today's game and lacks any semblance of leadership skills.

Kuzma - Easily replaceable, me-first bench gunner who contributes little outside of scoring and can't be a starter on a good team.

Ingram - High-upside wing who has intensity / focus issues

Hart, Zubac - Low-upside "prospects" / dime-a-dozen role players

And some low first-round picks...

The way I see it is that outside of Lonzo and Ingram who both have a chance to be pretty good, despite their flaws, the Pelicans weren't getting anything of substance...

[celtics543]

If I'm the Pelicans I try to trade for one more piece myself so that maybe we can compete and AD might be swayed into staying. Let's say they could swing a deal to get a guy like Bradley Beal somehow. Then you have AD/Jrue/Beal which should be good enough to advance pretty far in the playoffs. And if it's not then that says a lot about AD.

[John Murdoch]

They aint getting Tatum

[Gooner]

They aint getting Tatum

No way, Ainge ain't fool.

[lakers2020]

I think it's ridiculous how impatient people are with younger players. Not everyone is Lebron James, Simmons or Doncic. Some players need a little more time.
Look at D Russ in Brooklyn. I think in 2 years, Lonzo and Ingram will be a lot better and they both will eventually make an all star team.

[vxmike]

Apart from Memphis pick, other Boston picks are devalued hard, Sacramento is pushing its pick to bottom of lottery/out of it, Clippers will contend next season.
Jerry West’s 4D trade of Harris is deteoriating Boston position.
At this point its Tatum+ or no go.

That King’s pick you are so quick to bash is probably better than every Lakers pick being offered.

Did you realize the Kings are above the Lakers in th standing right now?

[patman52]

I don't get why the lakers would decrease thier offer in June when there is more competition. Unless they actually believe he would leave the celts or the knicks to join a 36 YO LBJ in his final contract year. Now he may leave the celts in 2020 but that by no means makes a dysfunctional Laker FO team his team of choice.

I think he sees how Ainge and Perry in NY understands that you don't build a team cohesion by naming players in trades. Magic messed up the Leonard, PG and now this trade, why does AD feel in 2020 that he will not mess up LBJ repacement.
Due to those takes, I think LA has to keep the same offer on the table.

[NBAFan93]

There’s no incentive for Ainge to overpay for AD. It’s far more likely he’ll underpay. I don’t see the Celtics giving up Tatum in a bidding war against other teams, such as the Clippers or Knicks.

Then the deal won’t get done and he’ll go to the Clippers or Knicks then. It’s not like it’s only between Boston and the Lakers here.

[chrisab123]

Theyll offer the same trade in the offseason. Plus they'll be able to hear Boston and NYK pitches knowing draft position and not being limited to the Rose rule.

[bondom34]

Zero chance. They'd regret not waiting much more.

[jason bourne]

What offer? You call that an offer? The Lakers didn't have enough. They may have another chance if the other teams underbid them.

[red96]

The poll options should've been
1. No they won't
2. Yes, I'm a Lakers fan.