Around the NBA (4.0) *Non-Celtics Talk*

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

MGRADs on Twitter calling KD/Kyrie to Brooklyn, DLo to the Lakers. I don't like him because he hates Boston, but he does have sources I'm afraid.

That Lakers would be super top heavy and very beatable. If they sign Dlo they aren't signing Morris, unless if DLO gets 28 mils, Morris is okay with making 7 a year. Morris would help the Lakers a lot, btw. Morris, Beverly, Reddick would do them much better than Kyrie or DLO. Also, defense will be a mighty struggle for that team as LBJ and DLO both are trash there. No idea how the Lakers fill out their roster as most of the semi decent role players will get more than the min(a lot more)... If the LBJ is smart(he's the GM of the Lakers via his " agent" Rich Paul) he will sign 3 if possible 4 good role players. Third star just wont work as both AD and James will need a lots of rest, imo...

I feel like they have their KG, Pierce and Rondo in AD, Lebron and Kuzma. They need shooters like Ray and Eddie, and dirt dogs like Posey and Perk. Aaron Baynes would be perfect to protect AD from more physical centers. Brook Lopez if they could get him cheap is a better 3 point threat. Kyrie would obviously be best cast scenario as he would be Eddie/Ray/Rondo (minus the D) rolled into one.

I don't have much faith in Pelinka being able to surround those guys with good role players. And even then, if the Raps stay together next year, I still have them winning a series against the Fakers.

[FlatearthZorro]

That Lakers would be super top heavy and very beatable. If they sign Dlo they aren't signing Morris, unless if DLO gets 28 mils, Morris is okay with making 7 a year. Morris would help the Lakers a lot, btw. Morris, Beverly, Reddick would do them much better than Kyrie or DLO. Also, defense will be a mighty struggle for that team as LBJ and DLO both are trash there. No idea how the Lakers fill out their roster as most of the semi decent role players will get more than the min(a lot more)... If the LBJ is smart(he's the GM of the Lakers via his " agent" Rich Paul) he will sign 3 if possible 4 good role players. Third star just wont work as both AD and James will need a lots of rest, imo...

I feel like they have their KG, Pierce and Rondo in AD, Lebron and Kuzma. They need shooters like Ray and Eddie, and dirt dogs like Posey and Perk. Aaron Baynes would be perfect to protect AD from more physical centers. Brook Lopez if they could get him cheap is a better 3 point threat. Kyrie would obviously be best cast scenario as he would be Eddie/Ray/Rondo (minus the D) rolled into one.

I don't have much faith in Pelinka being able to surround those guys with good role players. And even then, if the Raps stay together next year, I still have them winning a series against the Fakers.

If they stay in tact, Raptors are a far superior defensive team than probably any team the Lakers can assemble.

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

I feel like they have their KG, Pierce and Rondo in AD, Lebron and Kuzma. They need shooters like Ray and Eddie, and dirt dogs like Posey and Perk. Aaron Baynes would be perfect to protect AD from more physical centers. Brook Lopez if they could get him cheap is a better 3 point threat. Kyrie would obviously be best cast scenario as he would be Eddie/Ray/Rondo (minus the D) rolled into one.

I don't have much faith in Pelinka being able to surround those guys with good role players. And even then, if the Raps stay together next year, I still have them winning a series against the Fakers.

If they stay in tact, Raptors are a far superior defensive team than probably any team the Lakers can assemble.

Yup. They've got the pieces to slow down every guy on that team. Throw Kahwi on Lebron and use a platoon of bigs on AD. Gasol/Ibaka/Siakam will be a handful.

[sam_I_am]

I don't have much faith in Pelinka being able to surround those guys with good role players. And even then, if the Raps stay together next year, I still have them winning a series against the Fakers.

If they stay in tact, Raptors are a far superior defensive team than probably any team the Lakers can assemble.

Yup. They've got the pieces to slow down every guy on that team. Throw Kahwi on Lebron and use a platoon of bigs on AD. Gasol/Ibaka/Siakam will be a handful.

Toronto would have got waxed by a healthy Warrior team. The drop off after Kawhi is huge, AD and Lebron are at or close to the same level as Kawhi. Already they would give the Warriors a better run than the Cavs teams did. I think the Lakers are formidable no matter who they add.

[FlatearthZorro]

If they stay in tact, Raptors are a far superior defensive team than probably any team the Lakers can assemble.

Yup. They've got the pieces to slow down every guy on that team. Throw Kahwi on Lebron and use a platoon of bigs on AD. Gasol/Ibaka/Siakam will be a handful.

Toronto would have got waxed by a healthy Warrior team. The drop off after Kawhi is huge, AD and Lebron are at or close to the same level as Kawhi. Already they would give the Warriors a better run than the Cavs teams did. I think the Lakers are formidable no matter who they add.

A healthy Warriors would wax any version the Lakers can assemble, so that doesn't mean much. It is true that after Kawhi they don't have much consistency on offense, but they are great on defense and if the Lakers don't get role players, I expect them in the bottom third in defensive ratings.

[robdog_5]

Lebron after disappointing last season rested is gonna beast next year. All playoffs it's been Kawhi and KD best in world. Lebron has heard that. He's going to be so good next year. The thing is he's not great on D, Kuz is awful, AD is good. But if they dont prioritize some D on pickups that would be weird and not smart. I think you will see guys like Tyson Chandler, and vet min guys sign on. Buy outs are going to be big to watch because they already have their money. So if Baynes is bought out he could very well make a big impact

[FlatearthZorro]

Lebron after disappointing last season rested is gonna beast next year. All playoffs it's been Kawhi and KD best in world. Lebron has heard that. He's going to be so good next year. The thing is he's not great on D, Kuz is awful, AD is good. But if they dont prioritize some D on pickups that would be weird and not smart. I think you will see guys like Tyson Chandler, and vet min guys sign on. Buy outs are going to be big to watch because they already have their money. So if Baynes is bought out he could very well make a big impact

Father time is undefeated, budd. He's about to be 35 at the start of next season. He ain't getting any younger.

[The Corey's]

Lebron after disappointing last season rested is gonna beast next year. All playoffs it's been Kawhi and KD best in world. Lebron has heard that. He's going to be so good next year. The thing is he's not great on D, Kuz is awful, AD is good. But if they dont prioritize some D on pickups that would be weird and not smart. I think you will see guys like Tyson Chandler, and vet min guys sign on. Buy outs are going to be big to watch because they already have their money. So if Baynes is bought out he could very well make a big impact

Father time is undefeated, budd. He's about to be 35 at the start of next season. He ain't getting any younger.

Lebron is done as a out of this world talent. He can be neutralized.

But if hes the second option on his team, like behind a Leonard or if Davis can REALLY put it together then perhaps he has a few years left to leave his legacy.

[Disinformation]

Lebron after disappointing last season rested is gonna beast next year. All playoffs it's been Kawhi and KD best in world. Lebron has heard that. He's going to be so good next year. The thing is he's not great on D, Kuz is awful, AD is good. But if they dont prioritize some D on pickups that would be weird and not smart. I think you will see guys like Tyson Chandler, and vet min guys sign on. Buy outs are going to be big to watch because they already have their money. So if Baynes is bought out he could very well make a big impact

Father time is undefeated, budd. He's about to be 35 at the start of next season. He ain't getting any younger.

Nah, LeBron's got that on lock down:

[FlatearthZorro]

Lebron after disappointing last season rested is gonna beast next year. All playoffs it's been Kawhi and KD best in world. Lebron has heard that. He's going to be so good next year. The thing is he's not great on D, Kuz is awful, AD is good. But if they dont prioritize some D on pickups that would be weird and not smart. I think you will see guys like Tyson Chandler, and vet min guys sign on. Buy outs are going to be big to watch because they already have their money. So if Baynes is bought out he could very well make a big impact

Father time is undefeated, budd. He's about to be 35 at the start of next season. He ain't getting any younger.

Nah, LeBron's got that on lock down:

He's probably been doing that for a while. LBJ has always looked like a roid abuser. Probably many other in the NBA. That didn't help him last season. If his defensive effort isn't there, the West is still pretty tough.

[denmuscles]

LeBron at 40 is better than 70% of the NBA talent.

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

Lol at the Knicks. They really traded away Porzingis to clear cap space and are going to wind up with absolutely nobody. Next time you start feeling sorry for having to root for the Celtics, just be glad you're not a Knicks fan.

[Darth Celtic]

Lol at the Knicks. They really traded away Porzingis to clear cap space and are going to wind up with absolutely nobody. Next time you start feeling sorry for having to root for the Celtics, just be glad you're not a Knicks fan.

If you read about it, they traded him because he told the team to trade him before the deadline or he'll play overseas next year. So they had too.

New York media went full "oh look, kawhi, KD, AD, Kyrie all to the knicks! Anyone in the know didn't get too worried about anything the knicks would be doing. They will continue to have to pay max money to B list stars to field a team that doesn't do anything until Dolan sells the team.

[FlatearthZorro]

Oh and btw the Raptors fans as expected have become completely unbearable, at least more than 50% of them. Trolling everyone, looking down on everyone, after everything that happened to GSW, I see a lots of them trolling GSW fans(title is a title but let's not act like they beat even a semi healthy GSW team)... I might keep away from the general board till next season starts. Or maybe just check out the Summer League threads. With that being said the Siakam hype for them is real, the guy is the next GOAT. Btw checked his stats, his stats in their championship run aren't better than Tatum's stats in last year's playoffs, and he averaged 3 more points than Tatum this postseason with Kyrie's fiasco and all. He's 25, still can't shoot 3s, shot .290 from 3 in the PO in 24 games. He's been a pleasant surprise, but DAMN, lol...

[Disinformation]

Lol at the Knicks. They really traded away Porzingis to clear cap space and are going to wind up with absolutely nobody. Next time you start feeling sorry for having to root for the Celtics, just be glad you're not a Knicks fan.

If you read about it, they traded him because he told the team to trade him before the deadline or he'll play overseas next year. So they had too.

New York media went full "oh look, kawhi, KD, AD, Kyrie all to the knicks! Anyone in the know didn't get too worried about anything the knicks would be doing. They will continue to have to pay max money to B list stars to field a team that doesn't do anything until Dolan sells the team.

Count me as someone not in the know then -- I pretty much assume most of the big time free agents will go to the Lakers, Clippers, Nets, and Knicks. If that doesn't happen -- especially if the Knicks who have sucked for decades don't get anyone -- it will restore a bit of my faith in the direction the league is headed.

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

Lol at the Knicks. They really traded away Porzingis to clear cap space and are going to wind up with absolutely nobody. Next time you start feeling sorry for having to root for the Celtics, just be glad you're not a Knicks fan.

If you read about it, they traded him because he told the team to trade him before the deadline or he'll play overseas next year. So they had too.

New York media went full "oh look, kawhi, KD, AD, Kyrie all to the knicks! Anyone in the know didn't get too worried about anything the knicks would be doing. They will continue to have to pay max money to B list stars to field a team that doesn't do anything until Dolan sells the team.

I would have called his bluff. What's the highest salary down there in Europe? Maybe $5-6 million?? Porzingis loves New York.

And again - they traded Porzingis for cap space. You could have got something better for him other than 2 picks, IMO

[sam_I_am]

Evan Turner to Hawks for Kent Bazemore

[FlatearthZorro]

LeBron at 40 is better than 70% of the NBA talent.

The way he he affects winning is not the same tho. His effort on defense is legit abysmal and has been abysmal, but the East wasn't as good so he got a pass. In the West teams fight hard to make the playoffs and it becomes a lot more obvious, regardless of how many pts he can score, if he continues not playing on defense till the playoffs, the Lakers will be in trouble. I don't think he has the gas tank anymore to go hard on D and O. He hasn't had it for a while.

[FlatearthZorro]

Evan Turner to Hawks for Kent Bazemore

Bazemore might be worse than ET. Did it really happen? Tweet?

[soxfan2003]

LeBron at 40 is better than 70% of the NBA talent.

The way he he affects winning is not the same tho. His effort on defense is legit abysmal and has been abysmal, but the East wasn't as good so he got a pass. In the West teams fight hard to make the playoffs and it becomes a lot more obvious, regardless of how many pts he can score, if he continues not playing on defense till the playoffs, the Lakers will be in trouble. I don't think he has the gas tank anymore to go hard on D and O. He hasn't had it for a while.

Lakers defense last year was still above average and a lot of that had to do with Lebron. It was the Lakers offense that was bad thanks to LA surrounding Lebron with too many players that couldn't shoot well. I agree that on more than a few plays Lebron rests on defense but he still gets enough boards/blocks/steals to be a clear positive on the defensive end. It is just that he isn't playing defense as well as he can.

I actually agree with you Lebron can't go very hard on defense and offense like he could when Cavs won it all but I suspect he can at least play the level of defense he did in 2017 NBA Finals and frankly probably above that. In that series, I thought he was saving his energy for offense since Cavs didn't even have Kyrie but now with AD, they have another guy that can get you 25 points per game in the playoffs.

With Lebron next year, it will all be about whether he avoids injury. If the Lakers avoid major injury, they will be a tough out. Realistically, they will be the only team with 2 top 10 players and their is at least a slight chance they add a third top 10 player in Leonard. Lebron will be declining but as long as he doesn't suffer a debilitating injury, he should be better than someone like a Karl Malone at a comparable age.