Michael Jordan reportedly has interest in acquiring Westbrook, Pacers joined the chat

[jbk1234]

It really comes down to what you think of Hayward. I think he's been injured way too much and for way too long. I don't hate it for the Hornets and it gives the Lakers a puncher's chance at contending for what could be LBJ's last season there.

The Lakers aren't going to do better than Rozier but Jeannie Buss has to be willing to absorb the financial hit for at least one season after next season. If they've already concluded they're not paying max money to LBJ after next season, then they don't even have to worry about that.

[mademan]

Gonna be hilarious if Westbrook goes to another team, leads them to a decent record, and goes to the playoffs all while putting up better numbers.

The excuses are gonna be crazy. Not the biggest Russ fan, but his haters are delusional af.

Dude has been traded/dumped/gave up on by whats about to be the 3rd team in 3 years. Russ hasnt proved the doubters wrong in a while

[TheLand13]

It's not a matter of being a homer, I already described the how the move will be a negative but you're just being purposefully obtuse by pretending it's anything but a salary move in the big scheme of things

And yet you still tried to justify it in the very same post. Again, stop being a homer. You aren’t fooling anyone.

I'm not sure why you're being this hostile? Back to the foe list.

You’ve seen hostile me. We both know this isn’t a version of that. But okay, since homer is apparently an insult (I don’t see how. I’m a homer myself but whatever), I’ll try to be “nice”.

Kemba, stop blindly defending every move the hornets make. Not every decision they make is a good one. It’s okay to acknowledge that there are potential moves that aren’t worth it. In this case, it wouldn’t be a good one at all. You’re potentially helping another team solve their biggest problem while all you get is more salary space? Yeah, can’t wait to see all those high profile free agents not come to Charlotte.

[KembaWalker]

It really comes down to what you think of Hayward. I think he's been injured way too much and for way too long. I don't hate it for the Hornets and it gives the Lakers a puncher's chance at contending for what could be LBJ's last season there.

The Lakers aren't going to do better than Rozier but Jeannie Buss has to be willing to absorb the financial hit for at least one season after next season. If they've already concluded they're not paying max money to LBJ after next season, then they don't even have to worry about that.

Right, the whole idea was that Westbrook would be the hard carry and let Davis and LeBron be part time and then go all out in the playoffs, obviously it didn't go down that way but if they did this deal you can add Hayward to that list. They'd really need Davis to be ready to be reliably available. Rozier I would have little concern for.

[KembaWalker]

And yet you still tried to justify it in the very same post. Again, stop being a homer. You aren’t fooling anyone.

I'm not sure why you're being this hostile? Back to the foe list.

You’ve seen hostile me. We both know this isn’t a version of that. But okay, since homer is apparently an insult (I don’t see how. I’m a homer myself but whatever), I’ll try to be “nice”.

Kemba, stop blindly defending every move the hornets make. Not every decision they make is a good one. It’s okay to acknowledge that there are potential moves that aren’t worth it. In this case, it wouldn’t be a good one at all. You’re potentially helping another team solve their biggest problem while all you get is more salary space? Yeah, can’t wait to see all those high profile free agents not come to Charlotte.

This isn't a move they made, this is a hypothetical scenario that lets us access cap space a little bit earlier to add a piece to our young core. Do you actually think Hayward and Rozier for a year of Westbrook is some kind of franchise shattering move? Our core is LaMelo and Bridges, Rozier and Hayward are very good players that fit LeBron James and Anthony Davis window much better than they fit LaMelo and Bridges.

To your comment about free agency, well maybe nobody will sign with us, but eventually the money is gonna come off, if they have a target that fits the timeline, maybe it's worth it. Lakers may even be desperate enough to sweeten the deal

[TheLand13]

I'm not sure why you're being this hostile? Back to the foe list.

You’ve seen hostile me. We both know this isn’t a version of that. But okay, since homer is apparently an insult (I don’t see how. I’m a homer myself but whatever), I’ll try to be “nice”.

Kemba, stop blindly defending every move the hornets make. Not every decision they make is a good one. It’s okay to acknowledge that there are potential moves that aren’t worth it. In this case, it wouldn’t be a good one at all. You’re potentially helping another team solve their biggest problem while all you get is more salary space? Yeah, can’t wait to see all those high profile free agents not come to Charlotte.

This isn't a move they made, this is a hypothetical scenario that lets us access cap space a little bit earlier to add a piece to our young core. Do you actually think Hayward and Rozier for a year of Westbrook is some kind of franchise shattering move? Our core is LaMelo and Bridges, Rozier and Hayward are very good players that fit LeBron James and Anthony Davis window much better than they fit LaMelo and Bridges.

To your comment about free agency, well maybe nobody will sign with us, but eventually the money is gonna come off, if they have a target that fits the timeline, maybe it's worth it. Lakers may even be desperate enough to sweeten the deal

Exactly. You just laid out why this is a good move for LA. It only benefits you IF you manage to land someone. You shouldn’t do a trade if it’s very clear the other team will benefit more from it.

You’re better off doing this move for John Wall. At least we know the rockets don’t become potential contenders if you do that trade.

[KembaWalker]

You’ve seen hostile me. We both know this isn’t a version of that. But okay, since homer is apparently an insult (I don’t see how. I’m a homer myself but whatever), I’ll try to be “nice”.

Kemba, stop blindly defending every move the hornets make. Not every decision they make is a good one. It’s okay to acknowledge that there are potential moves that aren’t worth it. In this case, it wouldn’t be a good one at all. You’re potentially helping another team solve their biggest problem while all you get is more salary space? Yeah, can’t wait to see all those high profile free agents not come to Charlotte.

This isn't a move they made, this is a hypothetical scenario that lets us access cap space a little bit earlier to add a piece to our young core. Do you actually think Hayward and Rozier for a year of Westbrook is some kind of franchise shattering move? Our core is LaMelo and Bridges, Rozier and Hayward are very good players that fit LeBron James and Anthony Davis window much better than they fit LaMelo and Bridges.

To your comment about free agency, well maybe nobody will sign with us, but eventually the money is gonna come off, if they have a target that fits the timeline, maybe it's worth it. Lakers may even be desperate enough to sweeten the deal

Exactly. You just laid out why this is a good move for LA. It only benefits you IF you manage to land someone. You shouldn’t do a trade if it’s very clear the other team will benefit more from it.

You’re better off doing this move for John Wall. At least we know the rockets don’t become potential contenders if you do that trade.

I mean, I can't imagine the Rockets have any interest in Terry Rozier and Gordon Hayward. It takes 2 to tango. Hornets don't care if LA becomes a contender again for a year, especially if they're taking on Russell Westbrook

[Tracymcgoaty]

And yet you still tried to justify it in the very same post. Again, stop being a homer. You aren’t fooling anyone.

I'm not sure why you're being this hostile? Back to the foe list.

You’ve seen hostile me. We both know this isn’t a version of that. But okay, since homer is apparently an insult (I don’t see how. I’m a homer myself but whatever), I’ll try to be “nice”.

Kemba, stop blindly defending every move the hornets make. Not every decision they make is a good one. It’s okay to acknowledge that there are potential moves that aren’t worth it. In this case, it wouldn’t be a good one at all. You’re potentially helping another team solve their biggest problem while all you get is more salary space? Yeah, can’t wait to see all those high profile free agents not come to Charlotte.

Zip it dude this is a good deal. Why do you care anyway you're a cavs fan just keep quiet. Seriously ZIP IT! MJ this is a fair deal lets go.

[Teal25]

Getting off Hayward’s last year and getting out of Rozier’s extension sounds like a win to me. Not sure about the Lakers.

We will only have team options and Bridges extension on our cap if we’re able to do this trade. Lamelo, Bridges+ 70 million in cap space. How is this bad?

[mademan]

You’ve seen hostile me. We both know this isn’t a version of that. But okay, since homer is apparently an insult (I don’t see how. I’m a homer myself but whatever), I’ll try to be “nice”.

Kemba, stop blindly defending every move the hornets make. Not every decision they make is a good one. It’s okay to acknowledge that there are potential moves that aren’t worth it. In this case, it wouldn’t be a good one at all. You’re potentially helping another team solve their biggest problem while all you get is more salary space? Yeah, can’t wait to see all those high profile free agents not come to Charlotte.

This isn't a move they made, this is a hypothetical scenario that lets us access cap space a little bit earlier to add a piece to our young core. Do you actually think Hayward and Rozier for a year of Westbrook is some kind of franchise shattering move? Our core is LaMelo and Bridges, Rozier and Hayward are very good players that fit LeBron James and Anthony Davis window much better than they fit LaMelo and Bridges.

To your comment about free agency, well maybe nobody will sign with us, but eventually the money is gonna come off, if they have a target that fits the timeline, maybe it's worth it. Lakers may even be desperate enough to sweeten the deal

Exactly. You just laid out why this is a good move for LA. It only benefits you IF you manage to land someone. You shouldn’t do a trade if it’s very clear the other team will benefit more from it.

You’re better off doing this move for John Wall. At least we know the rockets don’t become potential contenders if you do that trade.

Why would the Hornets care about creating a potential contender in the West? Its not their timeline or conference.

You seem to be pointing out his bias in backing his team no matter what (i dont think this is a bad trade, so i dont get that part), but you seemingly gloss over your own bias. This is the only situation the Hornets will have to get off those 2 contracts..now i dont know if they want to do it or not, but there is no other team willing to give 50 mill in expirings for those 2. It at the very least seems like something the Hornets would consider, given their fans reaction to the rumor

[UcanUwill]

So when Rozier got that contract, I literally asked what % Charlotte regrets this contract within a year, and every Charlotte fan jumped on me or plainly said 0%, and after a year I read Charlotte fan talking about getting out of Roziers extension already, to a point they contemplating on taking Westbrick...

[Knightfall]

Its not the worst idea in the world in theory, Rozier and Hayward are good prime support players that LeBron needs to win now, and it opens the cap for us to add that 3rd piece to LaMelo and Bridges that fit their timeline better. But idk who that guy is and they better have an idea and be pretty confident they can get him

In a perfect world we would get draft capital on top of it and tell Westbrook to stay home for the year like Wall but we're a poor cheap franchise that would rather sell jerseys and market a garbage rehab project like WB at the expense of youth development, and Kupchack would probably give them a sweetheart deal and not understand how actually desperately they need a bailout

Great post and break down here. Plus with Kupchak in Charlotte I could very easily see him helping the Lakere out.

[amcoolio]

So when Rozier got that contract, I literally asked what % Charlotte regrets this contract within a year, and every Charlotte fan jumped on me or plainly said 0%, and after a year I read Charlotte fan talking about getting out of Roziers extension already, to a point they contemplating on taking Westbrick...

Not true, a bunch of us said it was too early to give him that contract. Rozier isn't a bad player, he just doesn't fit with LaMelo, he is too small and not a good defender. (Westbrook isn't much better but he at least has size and can pass)

[Knightfall]

They’re sending LaMelo for him. Just the latest scam trade by the Lakers.. you heard it here first

Haven't you heard the Blazers are going to send Lillard for Westbrook, It seems like some portion of Lakers fans actually think this.

Make no mistake, if Portland is going to commit to rebuilding and ask Dame where he wants to go and he says to the Lakers, they will try to work out a deal. Portland is known for taking care of their star players when they need to move in another direction. And that 47 million is a huge expiring contract. It's one of those the perfect storm happening things. Look at around the draft for the Lakers to try to purchase a first round pick.

[Grumpy Heat Fan]

Why do players make such terrible GMs lol. remember Joe Dumars taking Darko Milicic and passing on Wade, Carmelo, Bosh, etc lol

Actually I take that back. Jerry West is probably the best GM in history, and he was a HOF player. He is the exception I guess

[jbk1234]

So when Rozier got that contract, I literally asked what % Charlotte regrets this contract within a year, and every Charlotte fan jumped on me or plainly said 0%, and after a year I read Charlotte fan talking about getting out of Roziers extension already, to a point they contemplating on taking Westbrick...

Not true, a bunch of us said it was too early to give him that contract. Rozier isn't a bad player, he just doesn't fit with LaMelo, he is too small and not a good defender. (Westbrook isn't much better but he at least has size and can pass)

I don't even have Rozier as a bad contract. I don't think he's a good starting PG, but he's not a bad one either. He'd start for the Knicks or Pistons. I'd rather have him on his deal than Conley or Lowry on their deals at their age.

He's an adequate PG, a good combo guard and a really good sixth man. Most teams can afford one expensive role player so long as that role player is good at what they do.

[timO]

Rozier and day to Hayward to LA

[Up-And-Coming]

This is definitely a cap move. $47 million off the books in 1 season as Westbrook is an expiring. Hornets have to pay LaMelo and Bridges (both probably demanding max contracts) soon so this move would be in anticipation of that. Gordon and Rozier both have extended contracts.

[timO]

Getting off Hayward’s last year and getting out of Rozier’s extension sounds like a win to me. Not sure about the Lakers.

We will only have team options and Bridges extension on our cap if we’re able to do this trade. Lamelo, Bridges+ 70 million in cap space. How is this bad?

I think is a win win for both.

Hornets unload 2 bad contracts, and LA the evil Russ that keep LA away of the ring

Hornets gets a massive expiring, and LA two win now players for the last year/s of Lebron, on the long term the Rozier contract is not that bad. Hornets will be able to match a posible RFA max contract offer to Miles from OKC/pistons/magic teams.

[NyKnicks1714]

This trade could be completed within the week. That said, the Lakers might be better served to wait and see if there's something better out there, e.g. a Beal S&T. Hayward and Rozier aren't going anywhere.