The question now for the Celts is; how badly do they want to win a ring now, rather than later (after Fultz matures). In the NBA, you should always take the "win now" route because who knows that the future holds. In a similar situation some year ago, the Lakers traded their, then, first round pick, Marc Gasol, for his older brother Pau. Marc was a great prospect (though not as great as Fultz) and did turn out to be an all-star, but with Pau, the Lakers won 2 rings. Some people speculate that we should have kept Marc, but if we had, we'd likely have 2 fewer flags hanging . But C's won't trade for Paul George, especially if it involves the first pick, unless they get a guarantee that he'll sign long term with them. Translation: Celts will draft and keep Fultz, who I think can be even better than George at some point. As for Lonzo Ball, kid's going to be great despite his idiotic dad. Because of his father, the kid and the Lakers, are going to face more hate than usual on the road, though I have a feeling Lonzo may be mentally tougher than we know. Well, Sixers will finally get the Lakers' 1st pick next season. I'm hoping we can push that pick to the bottom of the lottery,.
The Lakers are supposed to be hated on the road, that's why I'm 100% sure Ball will end up with the Lakers for quite a while. A match made in heaven. My feeling about the Celtics is if they have a shot to trade the pick in a way that gets them over the hurdle and actually compete with Golden State and Cleveland, they will do it. It's quite likely Avery Bradley will involved in any big trade because they won't be able to pay him enough to stay after next season anyway. But Ainge has proven that you can't bait him into making a big trade for the sake of getting a star unless he's convinced that trade will pay off long term. I have no idea what he's going to do or who will be on the team next year. At this point I wouldn't be surprised if IT was on the table, if the right deal came along for a star who also has defensive presence.
Well, Bron is back in the Finals. Certainly no surprise there, since this is his eighth time. But with a record there of just 3-4, this is again a must win for him,. Otherwise, his legacy will be defined by staying in the east where the mediocre competition was the main reason for all those appearances. There is no way he would have been able to take his teams to eight Finals if he'd played in the west. Hard to see the Warriors losing the championship again, They appear to be on the proverbial "mission", Bron is looking down the barrel of 3-6. At this rate, he'll never get up to Kobe/Jordan level. The more highlights I see of Lonzo Ball, the more convinced am the Laker will take him at number 2. Since we already have a guard who can pay off the ball (as well as on), Zo's style fits us. My only concern is that the Celts might trade out of that spot and someone else might take him. Since Ball has already informed the C's he won't work out for them (gotta love this kid), pretty sure they won't take him. So, we'll take that "extra" hate. We're used to it.
Kinda think it's all over for the Cavs if they lose game tonight. They're going to have to prove they are in the same class as the Dubs because I don't think there is going to be a collapse this season. Not saying Cavs can't win, but if that is what they're going to do, they aren't going to be able count on any help from the Warriors this season. I am, however, hoping that the series goes at least 6 games because the Lakers' record setting 15-1 playoff record hangs in the balance.
Congrats to the Warriors. Durant proved he can win with difficulty level set to Easy. Hopefully later he tries again on Hard like Lebron did with Cleveland.
After committing biggest choke in NBA history last season, tying the record for playoff wins (with the '01 Lakers), and winning another ring in 5 games doesn't erase the pain, but probably takes some of the edge off. Congrats to them. Kevin Durant is off the hook. His move to GSW obviously was the right one. He was the major difference in the series. As for the Cavs, LeBron seems to take the losses better every time they happen. That's not a good thing. Bron puts up nice numbers but with a 3-5 record in the Finals, he has a ways to go before reaching Jordan/Kobe/Magic/Kareem level. By staying in the east where the living is easy, he gets more Finals appearances but gets them against better teams in the west, thus 3-5. Also, LeBron's feeble attempt to assert that the Warriors were somehow a different type of "super" team than his old Miami teams were, is ridiculous. He is just trying to save face by implying that KD made the Dubs something more than the "average" super team. Yeah LeBron, KD made just made them even tougher for the Cavs to handle. No gift comebacks this time. On to the draft.
There's no doubt that what Golden State did is different. Kudos to them I suppose, but it's basically the Yankees. Suggesting LeBron has anything to feel ashamed of is flatly ludicrous.
Exactly what was so "different" about the Warriors or what they did? I didn't suggest LeBron had anything to be a ashamed of other than his attempt to convince us that the Warriors were some kind of "super" super team in order to rationalize the Cav's loss. Yeah, the Warriors are a super team, as were LeBron's Miami teams. From what I''v read, Ainge is trying to put together a package to offer the Bulls in exchange for Jimmy Butler. The Celts are also rumored to be going after Gordon Hayward as a free agent this summer. If he does pull all this off and the team he ends up with has chemistry, he may save LeBron from 3-6 in the Finals next season. Getting the number one pick would be a great deal for the Sixers, assuming Fultz pans out. They'd have Fultz, Embiid, Simmons, all of them first picks in their respective drafts. Now if these guys pan out, Sixers may eventually force LeBron out of the east, since it would no longer be as comfy as it has been for him. On the other hand, Ainge has not been all that great at drafting, yet. Also, I'm still not convinced that Brad Stevens is a championship coach. The problem though is that although Hayward and Butler have shown themselves to be really good, neither is considered to have shown "superstar" talent and in the NBA, you need this to winn a championship. So we'll see.
Well Ainge is a work in progress, as is Stevens, but I'd give them a solid, cautionary B+ or even A- so far. I tend to agree with the Hayward and Butler assessment... Imagine if the Incredible Hulk (Boogie) could be controlled to enough of an extent. The Celts could become the beast of the east...!
At a minimum, they're either not sold on Fultz or they're not sold on giving up Thomas if they like other players (like Josh Jackson). This way they can get a very good player this year and the better of the Lakers or Kings pick (unless the Lakers get the number one next year, in which case they still get a very good Kings pick). They might be trading them, but I'm a bit more skeptical (because of how careful the protections are). My theory is that the Celtics want Jackson. The Lakers couldn't trade from two to one because they can't trade a pick next year (with the Sixers owning it), so they started leaking rumors that they want Jackson over Ball. Celtics traded with the Sixers because they have more to offer. Overall, it's a good trade for the Sixers but it's not a cheap trade. The Celtics didn't get fleeced (compared to the Celtics-Nets trade or the Sixers-Kings trade of the past).
Lakers trade today, D'Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov to Brooklyn for #27 in the draft an Brook Lopez on it's face is a terrible trade. We use the 2nd pick in the draft two years ago in a salary dump. At the least, you hold on to a player of Dlo's talent, age, and potential for three years. I was seriously looking forward to seeing him matched up in the backcourt with Lonzo. Speculation is that we're trying to clear cap space for two max contracts and possibly, a trade for Paul George this off season. Rumor is that he will came to the Lakers as a FA if we don't trade for him first. There is also speculation that LeBron wants to end his career with one of the LA teams after this coming season. But that is speculation, nothing more. So now, Lakers have the #2 pick (Lonzo), #27, and #28 picks this Thursday. I'm hoping that there are more moves to follow beuae this one sucks. Magic better know what he is doing.
Dwight Howard's on the move again, as the Hawks and Hornets have a made a deal. Howard may be the most unlikeable player in the entire league.
If Russell was disappointing or Ball is a clear improvement, this makes a lot of sense. I tend to think free agents want to go to places with established superstars recently because of the way the NBA's salary cap is structured that puts everyone on an even playing field, but hopefully the Lakers manage to make a strong case. I think the league is best when the historic franchises are doing well.
I am so utterly sick of Lavar Ball. Part of me hopes Lonzo fails miserably and gets cut just so Lavar has to endure the indignity of knowing that his dream of... well... living his dream through his son is dead. Either that or Magic Johnson having him banned for life from Staples Center after he criticizes Lakers management one time too many.
I'm so happy Ball went to the Lakers. They're building the perfect villain! In a couple years there could be a championship contending Lakers superteam with a trash talking father. I look forward to hating them for the next decade. Will be very interesting to see where the big free agents land. Lots of Blake Griffin speculation in Boston, will be interesting to see who Ainge is willing to part with to make big moves.
Pretty happy about the Lakers draft. Because of his dad, Lonzo is actually underrated, among the fans, that is. Most don't know that in addition to the passing and leadership skills he showed in college, he is also the best perimeter shooter in the draft -- better than Fultz, Taytum, Monk, both from the field and from behind the arc..Levar will be more of an issue for fans around the league but not for the Lakers. Lonzo appears to be the opposite of Levar in personality, very concise, plain spoken, and seemingly without pretense. But Magic may be laying it on a bit thick, creating all kinds of additional pressure on the kid. At the press conference, he introduced Zo as the new face of the Lakers and went on and on about his jersey possibly eventually hanging on the wall, which, as all Lakers' fans know, means HOF. Too much too soon Erv, he's still a rook and anything could happen. Loved our other picks as well, Josh Hart, a tough, mature, combo guard who was a defensive player of the year in the Big East, and specializes in getting to the cup. We also got Kyle Kuzma, versatile, power forward, who can also get to the rim and defend. The table is in the process of being set, but still long way to go. If things work out with Paul George next summer and we acquire another legit max player, then it is on.
If Giles can manage to at least approach the player he was pre-injury, the Kings may have gotten the steal of the draft.