True. I can see Lavar thinking that Zo might be traded and if the LA spotlight goes so does the Ball brand. It will be a lot harder to run this shit from SA. And SA wont support them like they have been fostered here. So newsflash, Zo injures his knee and has a torn ligament so he cant be traded yet he will be just fine for training camp so no worries. More likely Zo has always had a slight meniscus issue (look at all his knee problems in the past) and now will have that cleaned up. Zo only has two problems with his game last year. His body is physically too weak. He worked on that and now has a strong body. He can continue to work on that even through his meniscus surgery, at least the upper body where he needed it more. His other problem obviously is his shooting. And they are not changing his mechanic so all that means is that his shooting wont improve dramatically next year due to hard work changing his shooting and practicing a new mechanic. His shooting will only improve with a continued growth in confidence with his shot. Playing next to LeBron and all those other stars will give him more open looks as will his newfound physical strength which will increase his made baskets and will elevate his confidence.
I have my conspiracy hat on right now. The meniscus story comes out not that long after those pictures showing Zo with a ripped body looking like he’s in great shape, but right before the madness of FA and trades happen. It just seems too much of a coincidence
Zubac has real NBA production on his resume, a career 16 PER - excellent for a very young kid. Some big games. He'll have trade value that Thomas Bryant will not. Also, anon execs were quoted as saying Zubac was the 3rd best prospect in the 2016 draft.
T.Bryant reportedly could still be brought back on a minimum deal as a roster filler. Just after they use the cap space.
Alex Kennedy✔@AlexKennedyNBA Several veterans have told me they'd settle for a minimum deal with the Lakers if they land LeBron James. All eyes will be on L.A. and very few teams have cap room this summer, so they'd have no trouble adding complementary pieces to fill out the roster Guesstimation..Trevor Ariza, Rudy Gay, Jamal Crawford, Tony Allen, Dwayne Wade, Brook Lopez, Michael Beasley, Lance Stephenson, Nerlens Noel, Jeff Green, Joe Johnson, Corey Brewer, Anthony Tolliver, Shane Larkin, Kevon Looney, Dante Cunningham, C. Frye, Arron Afflalo, Ian Clark, Jarrett Jack, Mo Speights, Richard Jefferson......Isaiah Thomas ( noooot.) LeBron probably ready to give Isaiah's lil ass the boot once more. Of course, not that all those guys told Kennedy this, but those are the guys I could see taking the vet min. Some of them have no choice, but to take the minimum anywhere they go, but they'll probably prefer LAL. What if..dun, dun, duuuunnnn..Lance Stephenson wants in with LeBron for LAL? It'll already be must see TV if they land LeBron..throw in Lance for comic relief. But I think Lance could actually be OK next to LeBron, if they can keep him out of every night/strip club known to man.
George coming to LAL is not looking good. He's reportedly attending a party in OKC tonight that Westbrook is hosting and everyone there has to sign non disclosure agreements
If he reups with okc, I have to question his intelligence or drive. Go back to a team that is financially strapped and can't get out of the 1st round, just so you can say you are the 2nd option behind Russ rather than the 3rd behind LeBron and Kawhi. Enjoy it if that is what your ego needs
I would think that if Westbrook had invited PG13 to his party, and PG13 said no, that would have been a bigger issue. PG13 may not have wanted to standup Westbrook and leave on bad terms. The NDA maybe very much par for the course during this kind of period. He may just want to tell Westbrook upfront and before it gets official that he's leaving. Anyway, all these side stories are what makes free agency such a scrap shoot.
Well, again, I don't mind him staying in OKC if that's what it is. Said it before, he's good, but he's not 30M+ good. 2 years ago everybody was getting 30M+ per, well, not everybody, but these Conley/Derozan level guys were getting overpaid because the cap increased in a major way. But the market is correcting itself and the cap is stabilizing. In a cap league, gotta be careful about who you give that sort of money to. Magic probably feels the same, maybe why he wouldn't give up Ingram for George. Nobody wants to look up and be in OKC's position, paying luxury tax out the rear because of guys who aren't worth what they're making and not winning it all at the same time. Kawhi is definitely on the short list of true max/30M+ guys. Hopefully, Magic makes Kawhi happen. Still say I'd take the " George money " and sign Julius for 15M and split the other 15M between KCP and another guy, maybe Ariza. Maybe even give the whole 15M to KCP on a 1yr deal. Build some quality depth around LeBron and Kawhi, if that duo is in the cards. Seeing LAL sign George for 30M+ would be a bitter pill for me
Looks like Boogie Cousins is the fail-safe, is willing to follow LeBron to LAL. They're buddies. 1 and 1 deal for Boogie @ 15M per or so, player option for the 2nd year..would be good for me. Or 2yrs with a player option for a 3rd. Combination of a short term deal and solid leadership on the roster and in the FO would be good for him, keep him on his best behavior
Former Cavs GM Griffin called the Boogie Cousins thing a couple days ago Not official yet, of course, but it sounds like it's underway If it does, Boogie will be playing for his fave team growing up, big Shaq/Kobe LAL fan
Wouldn't even be mad if they maxed Boogie out on a short term 1 and 1 deal. A healthy Boogie is 30M+ good, unlike George A healthy Boogie is probably a Top 3 talent, legit capable of running point center Gotta get him healthy though..must be patient
