Thoughts in General, Rumors, etc 5.0

[Texas Chuck]

Yeah the Lakers don't have any difficult personalities running around that locker room with Howard and Jordan and Rondo previously.....

All the guys on our favorite team are classy and all the guys who played for a rival are clowns. Eye roll.

[HartfordWhalers]

Yeah the Lakers don't have any difficult personalities running around that locker room with Howard and Jordan and Rondo previously.....

All the guys on our favorite team are classy and all the guys who played for a rival are clowns. Eye roll.

I forget who came up with it, but I'm a believer in the one knucklehead rule. You have one guy who is 'eccentric' and a team can safely absorb it. You add a partner, and suddenly the two can create exponentially more trouble than either individually. Personally, I think LAL is past the two part as you alluded to, and if anything Beverly would help settle it down. But, given how the year has gone I can see the argument for shedding talent over chemistry fit.

[Texas Chuck]

Yeah the Lakers don't have any difficult personalities running around that locker room with Howard and Jordan and Rondo previously.....

All the guys on our favorite team are classy and all the guys who played for a rival are clowns. Eye roll.

I forget who came up with it, but I'm a believer in the one knucklehead rule. You have one guy who is 'eccentric' and a team can safely absorb it. You add a partner, and suddenly the two can create exponentially more trouble than either individually. Personally, I think LAL is past the two part as you alluded to, and if anything Beverly would help settle it down. But, given how the year has gone I can see the argument for shedding talent over chemistry fit.

Look I'm fine if the Lakers don't want PatBev for whatever reason. But he's one of those guys everyone hates on the other team and loves on theirs. He's like a hockey instigator. Your Steve Ott or your Claude Lemioux. My guess is if he was a Laker within about 2 weeks karmaloop would love the guy.

But the Lakers have no assets and difficulties with salary matching. They definitely don't get to be choosy. They probably will be hoping Dragic gets bought out and chooses them and then settle for DJ Augustin or something.

[daoneandonly]

My fellow Mavs fans overwhelming hatred for Kemba Walker continues to baffle me. Especially in the context of the proposed idea where he's simply a stopgap replacement very needed if Brunson is dealt.

He's an MLE guy, not a max guy. And yes he's negative value. And yes he's no longer an all-star. But as a guy who plays 15 mpg while Luka rests he's still a capable offensive player especially against other benches.

Just feel like the narrative against him is way stronger than how negative his value actually is. It's like how other fanbases talk about Dwight Powell. They just aren't as horrible either on the court or as contracts as they get painted here.

Really don't understand the hyperbole.

Well he's always been a putrid defender, so now that his offense is barely average I think having him on the floor at all is a negative. Not to mention Randle is a horrible fit with Luka and KP, so don't see why Dallas has to pay anything more for this pleasure. THJ's contract goes down each year

[Texas Chuck]

My fellow Mavs fans overwhelming hatred for Kemba Walker continues to baffle me. Especially in the context of the proposed idea where he's simply a stopgap replacement very needed if Brunson is dealt.

He's an MLE guy, not a max guy. And yes he's negative value. And yes he's no longer an all-star. But as a guy who plays 15 mpg while Luka rests he's still a capable offensive player especially against other benches.

Just feel like the narrative against him is way stronger than how negative his value actually is. It's like how other fanbases talk about Dwight Powell. They just aren't as horrible either on the court or as contracts as they get painted here.

Really don't understand the hyperbole.

Well he's always been a putrid defender, so now that his offense is barely average I think having him on the floor at all is a negative. Not to mention Randle is a horrible fit with Luka and KP, so don't see why Dallas has to pay anything more for this pleasure. THJ's contract goes down each year

Not trying to sell you on that trade. Or Kemba even really. Your position of not wanting him is totally justifiable. I just find the way he's talked about being a bit extreme is all. I mean when the Knicks were forced to play him, he showed he could still be a very good offensive player. I mean wasn't he player of the week even? I think in a bench role against 2nd units, he'd be playable. That's all.

[Texas Chuck]

alright flooded the board with a bunch of mostly really small deals of the type that typically happen. For those 4 of you who like those and not just blockbuster rumor of the day stuff.

Now here's to hoping we get some more juicy rumors so ya'll can have the big fun blockbustery deals to kick around.

[ejftw]

if the Wolves do something big and need to send out PatBev's matching he's that guy.

LOL. I guess I should have mentioned isn't a clown.

You can call Bev a clown all you want, but if you think he isn't a perfect fit for the Lakers, you are out of your mind. Even more so when you consider Los Angeles has virtually nothing to offer as their best trade chips are a very distant first (could be a good one but what GM will make a deal, while being comfortable that he'd be around to utilize said pick), Reaves (an UDFA who has shown promise), THT (can be argued he's a negative) and Monk (no bird rights, not even early).

Feels silly to say, but Bev would absolutely light a fire for the entirety of the Lakers side, including LeBron, and his intensity is addicting. I still credit Bev for the Clippers culture change, including the huge comebacks they've had so far this year.

[K_chile22]

My fellow Mavs fans overwhelming hatred for Kemba Walker continues to baffle me. Especially in the context of the proposed idea where he's simply a stopgap replacement very needed if Brunson is dealt.

He's an MLE guy, not a max guy. And yes he's negative value. And yes he's no longer an all-star. But as a guy who plays 15 mpg while Luka rests he's still a capable offensive player especially against other benches.

Just feel like the narrative against him is way stronger than how negative his value actually is. It's like how other fanbases talk about Dwight Powell. They just aren't as horrible either on the court or as contracts as they get painted here.

Really don't understand the hyperbole.

Yeah, honestly don't even think he's all that negative. He's still a pretty good backup PG to me, and that's worth at least around the tax MLE which will probably be getting close to $6.5M. Think everything just looks worse because the Knicks have a million guards and it pushed him out of the rotation

[Blazer1776]

Randle to Portland
Brunson to NYK
McCollum to Dallas

With tons of filler going on salary and value wise.

I don't have Dallas having $25M worth of salary they would want to give away unless its THJ and I don't know that the Knicks take him back. And while CJ is better than Brunson this year how much longer is that going to be the case? I don't think the upgrade for Dallas is worth the detonation of depth. Even if Brunson gets a huge payday this off-season its likely to be $10M cheaper than CJ. But more than that, its the players Dallas has to dump now just to match salary.

Who were you thinking Dallas would include--Powell and THJ I'm guessing? I know Powell is bad money but if you look at Dallas' centers you'd have to replace him cheap. Boban played for the first time in 20 games last night for like 2 minutes. Moses Brown is equally nailed to the bench and they both aren't ready to take minutes. KP is always hurt and if Kleber becomes the 2nd center now Dallas is playing Bullock as their full time back up PF.

I think that money gap renders this very very difficult. Because Dallas needs the players they give up to match and the teams taking them would go oh yuck THJ/Powell give me major incentive that Dallas isn't going to want to give.

Not speaking in terms of the proposed trade but just moreso in generalities, Portland could throw in Zellar who honestly is an excellent back up C.

[Ell Curry]

My fellow Mavs fans overwhelming hatred for Kemba Walker continues to baffle me. Especially in the context of the proposed idea where he's simply a stopgap replacement very needed if Brunson is dealt.

He's an MLE guy, not a max guy. And yes he's negative value. And yes he's no longer an all-star. But as a guy who plays 15 mpg while Luka rests he's still a capable offensive player especially against other benches.

Just feel like the narrative against him is way stronger than how negative his value actually is. It's like how other fanbases talk about Dwight Powell. They just aren't as horrible either on the court or as contracts as they get painted here.

Really don't understand the hyperbole.

Yeah, honestly don't even think he's all that negative. He's still a pretty good backup PG to me, and that's worth at least around the tax MLE which will probably be getting close to $6.5M. Think everything just looks worse because the Knicks have a million guards and it pushed him out of the rotation

I think the issue is that Kemba might be completely unplayable in a playoff series at this point defensively. Just get hunted every possession like Huerter on Seth Curry but worse.

[Blazer1776]

Randle to Portland
Brunson to NYK
McCollum to Dallas

With tons of filler going on salary and value wise.

I don't have Dallas having $25M worth of salary they would want to give away unless its THJ and I don't know that the Knicks take him back. And while CJ is better than Brunson this year how much longer is that going to be the case? I don't think the upgrade for Dallas is worth the detonation of depth. Even if Brunson gets a huge payday this off-season its likely to be $10M cheaper than CJ. But more than that, its the players Dallas has to dump now just to match salary.

Who were you thinking Dallas would include--Powell and THJ I'm guessing? I know Powell is bad money but if you look at Dallas' centers you'd have to replace him cheap. Boban played for the first time in 20 games last night for like 2 minutes. Moses Brown is equally nailed to the bench and they both aren't ready to take minutes. KP is always hurt and if Kleber becomes the 2nd center now Dallas is playing Bullock as their full time back up PF.

I think that money gap renders this very very difficult. Because Dallas needs the players they give up to match and the teams taking them would go oh yuck THJ/Powell give me major incentive that Dallas isn't going to want to give.

Not speaking in terms of the proposed trade but just moreso in generalities, Portland could throw in Zellar who honestly is an excellent back up C.

Scratch that, Inforgot he just had knee surgery.

Hard to keep track of all the injuries this year.

[Texas Chuck]

yeah Zeller would have been a solid answer to replace Powell if he were available. Agreed.

[loserX]

Woj, post-LeVert trade:

Read on Twitter

Obviously that would be great for Woj's twitter feed We'll see if that's what actually come to pass!

[MartinToVaught]

My fellow Mavs fans overwhelming hatred for Kemba Walker continues to baffle me.

I'd say they're right to be skeptical of an aging player with declining production, nonexistent defense, and a chronic left knee injury that he had to get stem cell injections for. The Knicks have been trying to showcase him for trades recently and he put up consecutive scoreless games (including one against the woeful Kings). Not exactly the type of performances that fill people with confidence.

I'm confused about why the Mavs want to trade Brunson anyway. They're going to regret being too cheap to pay him in the offseason if they do it. He's really good.

[Texas Chuck]

My fellow Mavs fans overwhelming hatred for Kemba Walker continues to baffle me.

I'd say they're right to be skeptical of an aging player with declining production, nonexistent defense, and a chronic left knee injury that he had to get stem cell injections for. The Knicks have been trying to showcase him for trades recently and he put up consecutive scoreless games (including one against the woeful Kings). Not exactly the type of performances that fill people with confidence.

I'm confused about why the Mavs want to trade Brunson anyway. They're going to regret being too cheap to pay him in the offseason if they do it. He's really good.

The Mavs don't want to trade Brunson. And both MacMahon and Stein--the two best connected guys to Dallas have reported they won't unless some team makes a "stupid" offer.

And again on Kemba, I understand all of the concerns. Just not the vitriol with which they have been expressed as all. They act like he's Rondo immediately after quitting on Dallas with the hands of Erick Dampier, the size of JJ Barea, and the athleticism of old man Dirk.

Instead he's a guy with bad knees who is still a useful offensive player in a limited backup role which is all he would ever have in Dallas. And in the context of a Randle trade, he's insignificant.

That's all.

But Dallas isn't trading Brunson unless a team gets stupid. And I can't see a team getting stupid for him, can you?

[MartinToVaught]

I think the issue is that Kemba might be completely unplayable in a playoff series at this point defensively. Just get hunted every possession like Huerter on Seth Curry but worse.

That's an insult to Huerter, who was lighting Curry up just as much on the other end. I think Kemba will look more like Rondo in last year's playoffs, just completely and utterly washed on all levels, and the other team salivating at their inevitable quick 10-0 run whenever he checks into the game.

[zimpy27]

Woj, post-LeVert trade:

Read on Twitter

Obviously that would be great for Woj's twitter feed We'll see if that's what actually come to pass!

Didn't know LeVert was from Ohio, that's kind of cool.

Since Indy got rid of playmaking in LeVert, I'm think Turner gets moved or Sabonis is moved for a playmaker..
Sabonis for Fox.. It seems more possible now.

[K_chile22]

I really wish Portland and Cleveland figured something out between them instead of doing what they both did. That would have been better for everyone

[Texas Chuck]

Oh and if the reports are true that Patrick Williams might be back for the playoffs I wonder if that changes anything for Chicago? I still think they need to add a big body, but if they feel good about that, they might not feel pressured to overpay.

[MartinToVaught]

The Mavs don't want to trade Brunson. And both MacMahon and Stein--the two best connected guys to Dallas have reported they won't unless some team makes a "stupid" offer.

And again on Kemba, I understand all of the concerns. Just not the vitriol with which they have been expressed as all. They act like he's Rondo immediately after quitting on Dallas with the hands of Erick Dampier, the size of JJ Barea, and the athleticism of old man Dirk.

Instead he's a guy with bad knees who is still a useful offensive player in a limited backup role which is all he would ever have in Dallas. And in the context of a Randle trade, he's insignificant.

That's all.

But Dallas isn't trading Brunson unless a team gets stupid. And I can't see a team getting stupid for him, can you?

I wish the Clippers could get stupid for Brunson. He's the exact type of point guard we're missing.

Regardless, it's just baffling that his name is even being put out there in the media, even if they're only holding out for some unrealistic Godfather offer that's not coming. I don't see what the benefit of that is vs. just staying quiet and being happy you have a player like that to pair with Luka.