[HAYNES] Nets and Lakers actively talking Russ/Kyrie trade…

[Fra Diavolo]

Mavs would need to add like THJ, Bullock just to match salaries. Would those guys for multiple years intrigue the Nets? Maybe. But you'd do it only if you talk to Kyrie and find out he'll indeed honor his contract. And even then, is he worth the loss in depth? Would you trust him not to change his mind?

The venn diagram of teams who are comfortable with dysfunction, risk tolerant because of their timeline and situation, are a preferred destination of the player asking out, feature the only player to have had success with such player, and have the requisite salary to match without sacrificing depth... there's only one team in the middle of it.

Why would the Nets want these players from Mavs? They are on longer contracts, while Westbrook's expires next year (buyout comes into play probably). The Lakers' offer with picks is simply better.

Kyrie wants to play for the Lakers, so I don't see the point in this move for the Mavs either...

[jpengland]

Kyrie infinitely more valuable.on the Lakers than to the Nets but can the Nets extract any value at all?

Kyrie has shown before he will just sit if not happy, so he has the power to force the Lakers as the only trade partner if that's what he wants as noone else would touch him if he was clear he would sit.

I don't know what the NBA can do about this kind of situation in the next CBA but the Nets are in a position whereby Kyrie derailed their entire franchise and then now gets to pick and choose where he goes. I mean yeah, half of me is enjoying laughing at the Nets, but man this Kyrie situation stinks.

[Exp0sed]

Kyrie infinitely more valuable.on the Lakers than to the Nets but can the Nets extract any value at all?

Kyrie has shown before he will just sit if not happy, so he has the power to force the Lakers as the only trade partner if that's what he wants as noone else would touch him if he was clear he would sit.

I don't know what the NBA can do about this kind of situation in the next CBA but the Nets are in a position whereby Kyrie derailed their entire franchise and then now gets to pick and choose where he goes. I mean yeah, half of me is enjoying laughing at the Nets, but man this Kyrie situation stinks.

That's how it seems to be playing out, Kyrie having the power to force himself to the Lakers but rly that's just the Nets choice

if there's only a "market of one" i.e - Lal and all they're offering is WB...it's better for the Nets to just let Kyrie rot on the bench for a season
show some heart Marks!

[bb22]

Someone’s probably already said it, but a Westbrook and Simmons backcourt would be hilarious.

[nitocobola]

sean marks is a bad gm, with a pudrit owner.. I can see this happening, for sure. Just imagine them getting seth curry too

[_NoMas]

Am I missing something or is LAL's biggest need actually defense?

Exactly! Not sure what Kyrie and Seth are going to add to that!

[Fra Diavolo]

Am I missing something or is LAL's biggest need actually defense?

Exactly! Not sure what Kyrie and Seth are going to add to that!

I think Harris is better defender than Seth and he can defend wings.
But still: AD, Damien Jones, Reeves, Stanley and Wenyen can play good defense. LeBron if he must he can too.
Lakers need 3&D wingman that's for sure.

Not sure about Lonnie, Troy and Toscano - they are average at best?

[_NoMas]

Am I missing something or is LAL's biggest need actually defense?

Exactly! Not sure what Kyrie and Seth are going to add to that!

I think Harris is better defender than Seth and he can defend wings.
But still: AD, Damien Jones, Reeves, Stanley and Wenyen can play good defense. LeBron if he must he can too.
Lakers need 3&D wingman that's for sure.

Not sure about Lonnie, Troy and Toscano - they are average at best?

They are some decent to ok pieces but realistically how many play off minutes are Jones Stanley and Wenyen going to get? I just don’t see a core of Lebron Ad Kyrie Seth being strong enough on defence, it puts a huge pressure on AD to mask all of the flaws around him… and whilst Lebron should be better on defence then last year (with Kyrie sharing the ball handling/ scoring burden), I don’t know how much of a plus he can be at that end in year 20.

The west is stacked, and I’d still favour the Clippers, Warriors and Denver at a minimum over the Lakers - and you’ve still got the Suns (potentially with KD), the Mavs, Grizzlies and a couple of sleeper picks in the Wolves and Pels

[Fra Diavolo]

They are some decent to ok pieces but realistically how many play off minutes are Jones Stanley and Wenyen going to get? I just don’t see a core of Lebron Ad Kyrie Seth being strong enough on defence, it puts a huge pressure on AD to mask all of the flaws around him… and whilst Lebron should be better on defence then last year (with Kyrie sharing the ball handling/ scoring burden), I don’t know how much of a plus he can be at that end in year 20.

The west is stacked, and I’d still favour the Clippers, Warriors and Denver at a minimum over the Lakers - and you’ve still got the Suns (potentially with KD), the Mavs, Grizzlies and a couple of sleeper picks in the Wolves and Pels

You are absolutely right, this is not the best constructed team. But still better than the current lineup and the Lakers, despite a lot of competition, are able to compete with the best.

A lot depends on the health of the players and their aptitude, especially AD.
The Lakers have a chance to add Thomas Bryant at center (yes, I know, he's actually probably a better player offensively than defensively, again!). I would love to see someone like Tucker and Eric Gordon on this team.
Maybe if the Lakers don't get rid all the picks and THT in Nets trade they are able to pull Gordon from Houston?

And I'm not sure about the new players, how much they are able to give defensively... But I think the Lakers will not be the worst defensively team in the league. I think they have a chance to be at least average or slightly above average with GREAT offense.

[BillessuR6]

There is only 1 team that woul want to trade for Kyrie, so the deal makes sense. But why would the Nets include any assets here? LA should pay more...

For BRK it does not really matter because I do not see them actually playing Westbrook. So, they only do this trade if they get a pick or some other asset.

Sent from my SM-T530 using RealGM mobile app

[Froob]

This is exciting.

Lakers with LeBron, AD, Kyrie are filthy good. Best trio in the league.

All 3 are injury prone (well less so LeBron but more than he used to be) and rest of the roster is trash. I really can’t see this team as a serious threat.

[Froob]

Am I missing something or is LAL's biggest need actually defense?

Exactly! Not sure what Kyrie and Seth are going to add to that!

Lakers are so devoid of talent, they need to get whatever they can get.

[timO]

Someone’s probably already said it, but a Westbrook and Simmons backcourt would be hilarious.

First Simmons is a PF who dont shoot 3s.

Russ shots 3-4 3s a game, with bad % sure (~30%) but hes not afraid to shoot as simmons is.

[xinxin]

I think ultimately - and unfortunately for Lakers - there will be team desperate enough to take Kyrie in contract year, and ready to outbid Lakers, so I wouldn't get attach that much to these rumors.

except kyrie's been saying he's not signing any long term deal with any other team except the lakers. similar to what AD did when he wanted out of NOP... no team will touch him at this point.. well, aside from the fact that he's toxic to any team.

[Lalouie]

ofc they are. Kyrie is gonna be traded, only 1 team wants him and WB has to be outgoing. On court play is a chasm of difference, but there isnt much league wide value difference between them. Nets will get some value in terms of pick compensation and do the swap

do we know this????

nobody wants kyrie and the nets want to get rid of his presence. IF they get something that's a bonus because right now kyrie's value is zero. the reason the lakers are the only team is because there is history between lebron and kyrie and last i saw lebron is not on any other team.

westbrook's lack of value is his contract and i think there are those teams who think he was in the wrong spot next to lebron. EVERYONE knows westbrook needs the ball and that was never going to happen w/lebron

[chrisab123]

Read on Twitter

Is this optimism from the Lakers or from Klutch? Both are one in the same with the same guy running it so I guess it doesn't matter.

[Smirk]

Not sure about Lonnie, Troy and Toscano - they are average at best?

None are particularly good. Lonnie is a horrendous defender, towards the bottom of the league.

And lol I cannot believe the Lakers get bailed out yet again. Unreal.

[Zvaart]

Kyrie infinitely more valuable.on the Lakers than to the Nets but can the Nets extract any value at all?

Kyrie has shown before he will just sit if not happy, so he has the power to force the Lakers as the only trade partner if that's what he wants as noone else would touch him if he was clear he would sit.

I don't know what the NBA can do about this kind of situation in the next CBA but the Nets are in a position whereby Kyrie derailed their entire franchise and then now gets to pick and choose where he goes. I mean yeah, half of me is enjoying laughing at the Nets, but man this Kyrie situation stinks.

Keep him and if does not suit up don't pay him. Better that 47 millon black hole westbrook.

[CobraCommander]

Kyrie infinitely more valuable.on the Lakers than to the Nets but can the Nets extract any value at all?

Kyrie has shown before he will just sit if not happy, so he has the power to force the Lakers as the only trade partner if that's what he wants as noone else would touch him if he was clear he would sit.

I don't know what the NBA can do about this kind of situation in the next CBA but the Nets are in a position whereby Kyrie derailed their entire franchise and then now gets to pick and choose where he goes. I mean yeah, half of me is enjoying laughing at the Nets, but man this Kyrie situation stinks.

Keep him and if does not suit up don't pay him. Better that 47 millon black hole westbrook.

I don’t see how this is better for either team.

Kyrie and Lebron are not who they used to be and AD will he hurt when the playoffs start.

So KD and Kyrie got swept by Boston but Lebron and Kyrie with a worse supporting roster than the nets supposed to win a ring?.: where is the logic here

[Pennebaker]

Kyrie infinitely more valuable.on the Lakers than to the Nets but can the Nets extract any value at all?

Kyrie has shown before he will just sit if not happy, so he has the power to force the Lakers as the only trade partner if that's what he wants as noone else would touch him if he was clear he would sit.

I don't know what the NBA can do about this kind of situation in the next CBA but the Nets are in a position whereby Kyrie derailed their entire franchise and then now gets to pick and choose where he goes. I mean yeah, half of me is enjoying laughing at the Nets, but man this Kyrie situation stinks.

Keep him and if does not suit up don't pay him. Better that 47 millon black hole westbrook.

I don’t see how this is better for either team.

Just keep it simple and think about it from a basketball perspective. Spacing. Think about what the sharpshooters, Kyrie and Harris/Seth, will allow the Lakers to do in terms of spacing for LeBron and Davis.

Even if Kyrie doesn't play, they're still going to gain Joe Harris or Seth Curry.

The Lakers didn't have any shooting before this and now we're talking about them acquiring two world class shooters.

That's infinitely better than where they were with Russell Westbrook.