SB Nation: Lakers and Wiz talked Zo-Wall trade

Post #1 » by **dockingsched** » Wed Dec 5, 2018 8:49 pm

It started as things do these days: some anonymous guy on Twitter posting something he said was absolutely, positively true. He said the Lakers were offering Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Wizards for John Wall. It seemed hard to believe, but it was just plausible enough for me to start asking friends around the league...

Source No. 1, a current NBA agent, surprised me by saying the story was true. The source said it’s something Rich Paul — agent to LeBron James and, as of January 2016, John Wall — was orchestrating. But, according to this source, the Wizards were saying no.

I was still dubious, so I checked with Source No. 2, another current NBA agent who’s at least as dialed in as Source No. 1. Source No. 2 said the rumor is true. This source said Ball and Caldwell-Pope were definitely in the deal, but that there was still discussion whether the third player would be Ingram, Josh Hart, or Kyle Kuzma. While the boundaries of the deal were defined, details still had to be finalized, and the whole thing could still fall apart...

Post #2 » by **TyCobb** » Wed Dec 5, 2018 9:00 pm

They should give us assets to take that contract. Lets get Wiggins while we're at it.

Wavy Q · Post #3 » by **Wavy Q** » Wed Dec 5, 2018 9:02 pm

Oh yeah that's exactly what this team needs. MORE ball dominant players

Post #4 » by **dockingsched** » Wed Dec 5, 2018 9:06 pm

this part is interesting to me:

This could have all been agent chatter, though. Agents are people (no really, it’s true), and people gossip. That two people have heard the same story doesn’t necessarily mean the story is true. It just means they both heard it.

So, I went outside the agent network, and asked Source No. 3: someone who works in an unrelated industry but has long-standing connections to Rich Paul and LeBron James. Source No. 3 said Paul was trying to get Wall traded to the Lakers and that the Wizards would do it if Paul could get Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka on board. But, Source No. 3 warned, it wouldn’t be easy, because the Lakers like their youngsters. Source No. 3 added the nugget that Paul was working on trades to put talent around James because of fears that younger free agents “don’t want to play with LeBron anymore.”

if rich paul and lebron are growing concerned that they can't attract free agents this summer and thus are drawing up plans to present to Magic/Rob to trade the youngsters for a star, things could get interesting.

Sushisensei26 · Post #5 » by **Sushisensei26** » Wed Dec 5, 2018 9:16 pm

Was this posted/discussed in some other thread?

Kevin Durant:

"It depends on what kind of player you are," Durant told Bleacher Report, which published its story early Wednesday. "If you're Kyle Korver, then it makes sense. Because Kyle Korver in Atlanta was the bulk of the offense, and he's not a No. 1 option at all, not even close. So his talents benefit more from a guy who can pass and penetrate and get him open."

"If you're a younger player like a Kawhi, trying to pair him with LeBron James doesn't really make sense," Durant told Bleacher Report. "Kawhi enjoys having the ball in his hands, controlling the offense, dictating the tempo with his post-ups; it's how he plays the game. A lot of young players are developing that skill. They don't need another guy."

"So much hype comes from being around LeBron from other people," Durant said. "He has so many fanboys in the media. Even the beat writers just fawn over him. I'm like, we're playing basketball here, and it's not even about basketball at certain points.
"So I get why anyone wouldn't want to be in that environment because it's toxic. Especially when the attention is bulls--- attention, fluff. It's not LeBron's fault at all; it's just the fact you have so many groupies in the media that love to hang on every word. Just get out of the way and let us play basketball."

Post #6 » by **Kilroy** » Wed Dec 5, 2018 9:33 pm

If that deal is representative of the kind of negotiations Rich Paul engages in, I may be buying a first class ticket for the "Trade LeBron Train"... WIth stateroom...

KCP, Ball AND possibly Ingram, hart or Kuz, for Wall?! and his Albatross contract?!
That's terrible.

Japago · Post #7 » by **Japago** » Wed Dec 5, 2018 10:14 pm

As a guy who doesn't really value the Lakers' young core, I wouldn't want John Wall and his contract even if the Lakers didn't have to give up anything. He would be an awful fit as a ball-dominant non-shooter. The Lakers have enough of those.

His contract is the worst in the league, even though he's still a good player. After this season, he's going to make ~$171,000,000 over 4 years afterward. He's going to be making $47.3 million in his final year.

lakerz12 · Post #8 » by **lakerz12** » Wed Dec 5, 2018 10:15 pm

Wait...why the f*** would Lebron's agent, Rich Paul be "orchestrating" a trade? ? ?

Correct me if I'm wrong but I wasn't aware an agent would have any authority to orchestrate a trade and trade away Laker players, etc. This sounds like total nonsense.

Magic and Rob are in charge...Rich Paul needs to stay in his lane if this report is true and he's actually trying to make a trade happen :lol:

TylersLakers · Post #9 » by **TylersLakers** » Wed Dec 5, 2018 11:02 pm

Hell to the no for John Wall.

Bradley Beal? Let's talk in July if KD, Kawhi, Klay don't come.

Post #10 » by **milesfides** » Wed Dec 5, 2018 11:08 pm

Whether this is specifically true or not, I've been saying this since this summer. There's little doubt that Lebron and his people would sell off our future, pennies or nickels on the dollar, to fit his closing window. Historically, Lebron has always used his considerable leverage to get coaches and players who "fit in." That works well when you're the best player in the world in his prime. Won't work so well when you're declining, and nobody good wants to play with you.

RamonSessions7 · Post #11 » by **RamonSessions7** » Thu Dec 6, 2018 12:43 am

I don’t believe the source

myersia · Post #12 » by **myersia** » Thu Dec 6, 2018 2:37 am

RamonSessions7 wrote:I don’t believe the source

Which one there are three in this article? I fully believe that Lebron’s teams is doing this. Not sure why anyone is shocked. LeBron always gets what he wants and has had several players traded and coaches fired. No one player in the nba has ever and I mean ever had the power of a team like Lebron. Front office wouldn’t listen to MJ in Chicago. But LeBron has always been a spoiled little **** since he got to the nba. The only reason he left Cleveland is because Gilbert put his foot down and had enough of Lebron making the decisions.

Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

Dr Aki · Post #13 » by **Dr Aki** » Thu Dec 6, 2018 2:54 am

FAKE NEWS

RamonSessions7 · Post #14 » by **RamonSessions7** » Thu Dec 6, 2018 3:11 am

myersia wrote:
RamonSessions7 wrote:I don’t believe the source

Which one there are three in this article? I fully believe that Lebron’s teams is doing this. Not sure why anyone is shocked. LeBron always gets what he wants and has had several players traded and coaches fired. No one player in the nba has ever and I mean ever had the power of a team like Lebron. Front office wouldn’t listen to MJ in Chicago. But LeBron has always been a spoiled little **** since he got to the nba. The only reason he left Cleveland is because Gilbert put his foot down and had enough of Lebron making the decisions.

Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

The one writing the article. I don't care how many "sources" he numbers

Ballerhogger · Post #15 » by **Ballerhogger** » Thu Dec 6, 2018 3:39 am

Can i get HECK NO

Optms · Post #16 » by **Optms** » Thu Dec 6, 2018 9:54 am

milesfides wrote:Whether this is specifically true or not, I've been saying this since this summer. There's little doubt that Lebron and his people would sell off our future, pennies or nickels on the dollar, to fit his closing window. Historically, Lebron has always used his considerable leverage to get coaches and players who "fit in." That works well when you're the best player in the world in his prime. Won't work so well when you're declining, and nobody good wants to play with you.

He has no leverage even if true because he's on a multi-year deal. Ol Magic trapped him. LeBrewski formerly known as LeGM isn't going anywhere.

Mos_Heat · Post #17 » by **Mos_Heat** » Thu Dec 6, 2018 10:40 am

Even if it's true and Lebron wants Wall, Lakers can just trade Ball for him this summer, without Ingram, Hart, Kuzma or any other filler.

Looks like fake news anyways

Michael Lucky · Post #18 » by **Michael Lucky** » Thu Dec 6, 2018 11:21 am

Mos_Heat wrote:Even if it's true and Lebron wants Wall, Lakers can just trade Ball for him this summer, without Ingram, Hart, Kuzma or any other filler.

Looks like fake news anyways

You have to match salaries. Not even sure how the Lakers do that.

Mos_Heat · Post #19 » by **Mos_Heat** » Thu Dec 6, 2018 11:36 am

Michael Lucky wrote:
Mos_Heat wrote:Even if it's true and Lebron wants Wall, Lakers can just trade Ball for him this summer, without Ingram, Hart, Kuzma or any other filler.

Looks like fake news anyways

You have to match salaries. Not even sure how the Lakers do that.

Don't you have like 40mil under the cap this summer?

Michael Lucky · Post #20 » by **Michael Lucky** » Thu Dec 6, 2018 12:04 pm

Mos_Heat wrote:
Michael Lucky wrote:
Mos_Heat wrote:Even if it's true and Lebron wants Wall, Lakers can just trade Ball for him this summer, without Ingram, Hart, Kuzma or any other filler.

Looks like fake news anyways

You have to match salaries. Not even sure how the Lakers do that.

Don't you have like 40mil under the cap this summer?

Pretty sure salaries have to match regardless of cap space.