2018-19 NBA Trade Deadline and Post-Deadline Thread

[HollywoodLeo]

That's typically always the case for win now pushes.

[realmofotalk]

Yeah, Ingram and his blood clots and the Balls can go, but if AD doesn't stay, the loss of 3 picks turning the Lakers to the new Brooklyn Nets is frightening.

[HollywoodLeo]

They're definitely in win now mode.

I imagine they try to use the cap room they still have to try and land a max deal, but who? Is Leonard going to leave Toronto after winning with them? Is Durant even worth it with his injury? I doubt Kyrie wants to team with LeBron again.

[realmofotalk]

I still want Kawhi because if you're going to invest a max contract on anybody, he's the one who checks all the boxes, but the Lakers probably feel their starting frontcourt is set with AD, LeBron, and Kuzma. And since Kyrie is doubtful, that makes Kemba Walker the betting favorite to come here.

[Slyder]

Can they afford to offer AD a super-max extension and a max deal to someone else without having to pray for guys to com for a discount and a chance to play with Bron and Brow?

[realmofotalk]

I thought the super max only applied had he stayed in New Orleans? Anyway, I agree, they ought to spread the remaining cap room around instead of using it all on a guy like Kemba.

[dgfred]

Re-sign Davis, re-sign Lebron, get little Bron-Bron. Perfect.

[realmofotalk]

If the Lakers sign J.R. Smiff and Carmelo I am done with this team. Pelinka will have learned nothing from his and El Magico's shitty signings from last year.

[Slyder]

If the Lakers sign J.R. Smiff and Carmelo I am done with this team. Pelinka will have learned nothing from his and El Magico's shitty signings from last year.

You really look at LeBron's teams of the past and think this is Pelinka's call? This has LeBron and Buddies all over it. Palinka is doing the same thing every gm (except maybe Pat Riley) has done. They've fed the beast and let LeBron make the calls.

[dgfred]

I think they got it rigged now so they have over 30 million for another start... somebody learned how to salary cap.

[realmofotalk]

You really look at LeBron's teams of the past and think this is Pelinka's call? This has LeBron and Buddies all over it. Palinka is doing the same thing every gm (except maybe Pat Riley) has done. They've fed the beast and let LeBron make the calls.

If you really believe that LeBron gets to pick his own teammates, why would he get guys that make his team worse and waste whatever little time he has left in the league?

[Slyder]

If you really believe that LeBron gets to pick his own teammates, why would he get guys that make his team worse and waste whatever little time he has left in the league?

They'll do what he wants and he is still capable of carrying a team deep into the playoffs when healthy.

[HollywoodLeo]

They'll do what he wants and he is still capable of carrying a team deep into the playoffs when healthy.

That explains the Lakers' playoff run this year.

If LeBron neutered the GM of whatever team he played for and hand picked his own teammates how do you explain the rift between him and Cleveland's management during his time there that primarily centered around him not getting adequate help?

[realmofotalk]

Wait, KD created his own sports business network to promote his free agent decision? So he basically took LeBron's idea from 2010 and asked himself "how can I do the same thing except not give money to charity?"

[realmofotalk]

They have 2 years before this implodes with no help coming from the draft.

Totally worth it now, even if they're locked into years of having to convince veteran free agents to come and accept the mid-level exception.