NBA Season 2021-2022 The Year of the Prodigal Son(s)

[gblews]

The Lakers, man. It's hilarious and also a little sad. Before LeBron got there, Magic Johnson did a really good job assembling a core of talented young players. Then they shifted gears and went into win-now mode

Ah, where to srart?

First of all, there was never a gear shift. The plan was always to acquire a superstar. The Lakers were never going to rely strictly on the draft, and young players, to get back in contention. The only way they would have kept any of those young guys is if they’d made themselves indispensable. None did, so they became trade bait in acquiring a superstar. Worked perfectly.

It got them a ring,

You should have stopped right here.

but now they're paying for it. They're in for a dismal next few years, and I don't know if ownership and the fanbase are patient enough to endure losing until they have draft picks again, then lose some more while they assemble another young core that could grow together and slowly improve.

Let’s see, win our 17th championship, finally catching the Celts, but you’re going to have at least 2 mediocre years, but you’ll still have 2 top 5 players. Yeah, I think I’d make that “Faustian “ deal again. And so would most rational teams.

What do you think ownership is going to do if they can’t “endure?,” fire Frank Vogel, trade LeBron, trade AD? Only one of the aforementioned things will happen,

I guarantee you the fan base won’t be patient, but compared to other fan bases, we haven’t had to be patient.

As for the plan going forward, we’ll restock around our 2 superstars, what else would we do? As for our picks, we have our ‘23 and (either } our ’25 or ‘26 first rounders. So, we have picks..

Even worse, the organization that created their success in the 80s, and again in the 2000s, has been almost totally dismantle$.

Jerry Wesr was the aexhetect of those 80’s teams, and the early 00’s teams. He’s been gone since, I think, 2002 or ‘03. Since he left, the Lakers have been to the Finals 4 times and have won 3 rings. Name a team that has done better in that same period.

The GM has no basketball experience outside of being Kobe's agent, and nobody knows how much power he actually has because the owner's BFF and her husband, plus LeBron and his agent, all wield a lot of power on an unofficial basis.

FYI - Rob Pelinka played college vasketball at Michigan. Plenty of GM’s who never plaued or coached in the NBA have won rings, GSW’s Bob Myers comes to mind immediately, he was also an agent before going to the Dubs.

More FYI - The “BFF’s” husband, who help’s run the Lakers , won championship’s as a player and coached in the league. I don’t know exactly how much “power” Rob has, either, but I do know he has enough to build a championship. He’s proven that.

As for LeBron and Rich Paul’s influence, no team in the league would turn down Bron. Rich comes along as part of the package. You do the math.

After LeBron retires or leaves, what superstar is going to want to come play for this dysfunctional garbage fire? The Lakers could become the West Coast version of the Knicks.

“Superstar will ever want to play for the Lakers”. Do you know how many times I’v heard this? Then we got Wilt. Then we got Kareem. Then we got Shaquille. Then we got Karl Malone and Gary Payton. Then we got Pau. Then we got LeBron and AD. It goes on and on. When Bron retires, we’ll have a ton of cap space, all of our picks, and maybe AD, and we’ll still be the Lakers.

Your post reads like an east coast NBA writer who doesn’t know much about the Lakers, doesn’t want to do any research, but just says “screw it, I’m on deadline.”

 

[GeorgeKirk]

As for the plan going forward, we’ll restock around our 2 superstars, what else would we do?

I assume you mean LeBron and AD? LeBron's about to be 38. True, he's the most amazing 38-year-old athlete there's ever been, but he's not durable enough to play an 82-game season and have enough left for a deep playoff run. As for AD, he's great but his body is made out of tissue paper and Tinkertoys.

The last time a Lakers championship squad had a 38-year-old superstar was in 1985. That team also had Magic Johnson, James Worthy, and Bryon Scott, all of whom were in their 20s. LeBron has nowhere near that level of support, nor is he likely to get it on this team.

Jerry West was the architect of those 80’s teams, and the early 00’s teams. He’s been gone since, I think, 2002 or ‘03. Since he left, the Lakers have been to the Finals 4 times and have won 3 rings. Name a team that has done better in that same period.

Jerry West left in 2000. The team he built three-peated in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Since then they've won an additional 3 rings. During that same period the Heat and Warriors have won 3 apiece, and the Spurs have won 4.

FYI - Rob Pelinka played college basketball at Michigan.

So? How does being a role player on a college team qualify you to be GM of any pro franchise, let alone one of the most valuable in all of sports?

Plenty of GM’s who never played or coached in the NBA have won rings

No kidding. Playing on a basketball team and assembling one are two completely different skill sets. Being good at one in no way qualifies you to do the other. Jerry Krause built 6 Bulls championship teams, but nobody ever suggested he should suit up and play. Plenty of players have been really bad GMs: Michael Jordan, M.L. Carr, and Wes Unseld come to mind.

More FYI - The “BFF’s” husband, who help’s run the Lakers , won championship’s as a player and coached in the league.

Yes, Kurt Rambis was a role player on a few Lakers championship teams in the 80s. So what? And do you REALLY want to talk about his coaching career? Rambis' career winning percentage is somewhere south of .300, and the only two times he coached a team for a full season they failed to win even 20 games each time. He's a pathetic, inept failure. The best thing he could do to help the Lakers is to go get a job with one of their Western Conference rivals.

And why does his wife have ANY influence in the organization? The Lakers aren't some small business, they're one of the most valuable sports franchises in the world! What if a Fortune 500 company had, as the most influential advisor to it's CEO, that CEO's best buddy who had no professional qualifications? What a clown show!

I don’t know exactly how much “power” Rob has, either, but I do know he has enough to build a championship. He’s proven that.

All he really did was take the assets that the previous GM acquired and turn them into Anthony Davis. Yes, it got the team a ring, which is great. But it's not like he built the team from the ground up.

“Superstar will ever want to play for the Lakers”. Do you know how many times I’v heard this? Then we got Wilt. Then we got Kareem. Then we got Shaquille. Then we got Karl Malone and Gary Payton. Then we got Pau. Then we got LeBron and AD. It goes on and on.

Come on. Players having the power to choose the team they play for is a very recent development. Even AD was bound to the Pelicans until the Lakers traded for him. Of course he wanted to come to LA, but then again he was on the PELICANS. He'd have come to the Clippers if they could have swung a deal for him first.

When Bron retires, we’ll have a ton of cap space, all of our picks, and maybe AD, and we’ll still be the Lakers.

Who knows? AD is about as durable as wet toilet paper. If he's not in a full body cast by then he'll be doing good. Will the Lakers always be a glamorous destination? For right now, sure. But look what happened to the Knicks. They were the prime East Coast destination, but years of mismanagement have made it so that star players who want to come to NYC would rather sign with the Nets. The Nets, who are basically the Clippers of the East. If the Lakers front office continues to be a third-rate clown show, the day will come when they can't attract first-rate talent anymore.

Your post reads like an east coast NBA writer who doesn’t know much about the Lakers, doesn’t want to do any research, but just says “screw it, I’m on deadline.”

I've been following the NBA for over 30 years, dude. I've probably forgotten more than you'll ever know.

 

[gblews]

assume you mean LeBron and AD? LeBron's about to be 38. True, he's the most amazing 38-year-old athlete there's ever been, but he's not durable enough to play an 82-game season and have enough left for a deep playoff run. As for AD, he's great but his body is made out of tissue paper and Tinkertoys.

Well, it’s likeTom Brady, as long as he and Bron keep playing, if you predict that the next season will be the one where they physically collapse then eventually you’ll be right, but what they’ll accomplish up to that point is what their fans will savor.

The last time a Lakers championship squad had a 38-year-old superstar was in 1985. That team also had Magic Johnson, James Worthy, and Bryon Scott, all of whom were in their 20s. LeBron has nowhere near that level of support, nor is he likely to get it on this team.

Ah, thanks for those great memories. LrBron has never had that level of talent on any of his championship teams. Neither has anyone else. You don’t need that level of talent to win a championship in the NBA anymore. This year’s champ won’t have that level of talent either, BTW. Oh, and FYI, the ‘87 team was the most talented of the 80’s teams. It had 4 players who were the first picks in their respective drafts, and one who was the first taken at his position.

Jerry West left in 2000. The team he built three-peated in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Since then they've won an additional 3 rings. During that same period the Heat and Warriors have won 3 apiece, and the Spurs have won 4.

Actually, the Lakers had 5 appearances in the Finals (along with the 3 chips) after Logo left. Sooooo, nobody better.

So? How does being a role player on a college team qualify you to be GM of any pro franchise, let alone one of the most valuable in all of sports?

Dude. Those goalposts are heavy, you could strain your back. You said Pelinka had “NO” basketball experience. I was merely pointing out that yout statement was factually incorrect. Now you’re saying that Rob’s basketball experience is of questionable value. But I think we both agreed that playing or coaching experience is not a necessity for a winning GN, obviously.

No kidding. Playing on a basketball team and assembling one are two completely different skill sets. Being good at one in no way qualifies you to do the other. Jerry Krause built 6 Bulls championship teams, but nobody ever suggested he should suit up and play. Plenty of players have been really bad GMs: Michael Jordan, M.L. Carr, and Wes Unseld come to mind.

Over 30 years of NBA fandom, on display. Alrighty then.

No kidding. Playing on a basketball team and assembling one are two completely different skill sets. Being good at one in no way qualifies you to do the other. Jerry Krause built 6 Bulls championship teams, but nobody ever suggested he should suit up and play. Plenty of players have been really bad GMs: Michael Jordan, M.L. Carr, and Wes Unseld come to mind.

So, I take it that you agree that Pelinka’s basketball experience is not as much of a problem as youlimplied it was, right@?

Yes, Kurt Rambis was a role player on a few Lakers championship teams in the 80s. So what?

Once again you’re moving those goalposts. You referred to Rambis as “the owner’s BFF’s husband.” And Kurt is quite a bit more than that. He has tons of playing and coaching experience. Yeah, he was a lousy coach, but we both know that bad coaches sometimes make great front office execs.

And why does his wife have ANY influence in the organization? The

Linda Rambis has no power over the basketball operation. This is a notion that basketball writers have pushed for a few years and gullible fans have eaten up.

All he really did was take the assets that the previous GM acquired and turn them into Anthony Davis. Yes, it got the team a ring, which is great. But it's not like he built the team from the ground up.

this is what I meant when I said you know very little about the Lakers, but are going off anyway.

Pelinka WAS the “ptrvious GM, Magic was Pres of Basketball Ops. Rob was in on the team’s plans from the start. Pelinka got the AD trade completed, something Magic couldn’t do. Then, after waiting in vain for Kawhi duringnFA, Rob nuilt a championship roster ptacrically on the fly.
For some reason, I can feel those goalposts starting to move again.

Come on. Players having the power to choose the team they play for is a very recent development. Even AD was bound to the Pelicans until the Lakers traded for him. Of course he wanted to come to LA, but then again he was on the PELICANS. He'd have come to the Clippers if they could have swung a deal for him first.

No dude, players having the power to choose where they play has been around since incorporation of tree agency in the mid-90’s. AD didn’t just want to come to LA, he wanted the Lakers. He won’t be the last. Hey, Zion also plans for the Pels, hmm…

BTW, if it was only about LA, why did it take until 2020 for the Clips to land their first triple A superstar free agent?

Who knows? AD is about as durable as wet toilet paper. If he's not in a full body cast by then he'll be doing good. Will the Lakers always be a glamorous destination? For right now, sure. But look what happened to the Knicks. They were the prime East Coast destination, but years of mismanagement have made it so that star players who want to come to NYC would rather sign with the Nets. The Nets, who are basically the Clippers of the East. If the Lakers front office continues third-rate clown show, the day will come when they can't attract first-rate talent anymore.

Yean, that’s why I said we “might” have
AD. Look man, the Lakers have either been to the Finals or won a championship at least once (or more) in every decade since the 1940’s. So believe me when I tell you I’m not worried about out future.

BTW, Jerry Krause and his 6 championships in the mid 90’s are the thin slice of meat between two VERY thick slices of abject mediocrity.

I've been following the NBA for over 30 years, dude. I've probably forgotten more than you'll ever know.

30:years, huh? You’re still a newbie to me. But you’re doing pretty good here. Keep it up.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Looks like Celtics will get Nets in the first round. That’s kinda scary, but it’d be sweet to send the flat earth Antivax primadonna home ourselves.

Lebron only has one championship that he didn’t need to surround himself with other superstars to get. Imagine how many Jordan would have had if he could just team up with David Robinson and Hakeem.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Looks like Celtics will get Nets in the first round. That’s kinda scary, but it’d be sweet to send the flat earth Antivax primadonna home ourselves.

Lebron only has one championship that he didn’t need to surround himself with other superstars to get. Imagine how many Jordan would have had if he could just team up with David Robinson and Hakeem.

If the Cavs beat the Nets, the Celts would get the Cavs. #1 seed gets the winner between #9 & #10 vs loser between #7 & #8.

Not at all confusing.

The Bulls are gonna get steamrolled by the Bucks. No doubt about that. The Bulls have had a nice long skid since the ASG and have zero bench.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

It would be nice to get the Cavs instead but Nets have to be heavy favorite in that game.

 

[gblews]

Lebron only has one championship that he didn’t need to surround himself with other superstars to get. Imagine how many Jordan would have had if he could just team up with David Robinson and Hakeem.

Oh really? Name an NBA team that has won a championship without at least 2 or more stars besides the ‘04 Pistons? And who were the stars “surrounding” Bron in 2020? I mean I loved Alex Caruso on that team, but aye,,,

But you know who else never won a ring without being surrounded by stars? Larry Bird. Yeah, I know he only won 3, but still.

I guess having so many haters is testament to Bron’s greatness. Even Kobe didn’t have as many, and he went out of his way to court them.

Surrounded by Lakers and Bron haters. Love it.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Larry Bird didn't jump from team to team whenever the team he was on ran out of resources. If he went to the Lakers to team up with Magic and Jordan you'd have an argument.

A lot of the guys you're counting as stars were stars because they played well with a superstar. Duncan's supporting cast were stars because they were on a strong, solid team that stayed together for a long time, put them on their own nobody would call them superstars. The same was true of the first Warriors championship before they brought in KD. Lebron does it with guys who, in a league without superteams, could potentially win championships with just a solid supporting cast.

Kyrie is acting like a sports movie villain. He's the Shooter McGraw of basketball.

 

[gblews]

Larry Bird didn't jump from team to team whenever the team he was on ran out of resources. If he went to the Lakers to team up with Magic and Jordan you'd have an argument.

Oh no, you’re not moving the goalposts to “Bird never changed teams to play with other stars.” Bird never won a championship when he wasn’t surrounded by stars. If you have evidence to the contrary, then rush it on out here. If your real complaint was LeBron changing trans, then you should have led with that. Then, I might not have mentioned Larry.

But here’s something else you might want to xondider; We really don’t know if Bird, Magic, or Jordan might have switched teams to enhance their championship resumes because there was no ftrr agency duting their playing days. So, we might very well have seen player created super teams a lot sooner. Just FYI.

A lot of the guys you're counting as stars were stars because they played well with a superstar. Duncan's supporting cast were stars because they were on a strong, solid team that stayed together for a long time, put them on their own nobody would call them superstars. The same was true of the first Warriors championship before they brought in KD. Lebron does it with guys who, in a league without superteams, could potentially win championship

No dude, the role players aren’t stars, they’re there in support of the Starr’s. Those Spurs teams won championships BECAUSE they had stars, Duncan, Ginobli, Parker, Leonard. All Hall of Famerrs or future Hall of Farmers. Without those 3, Spurs would have no rings. In the NBA, you don’t get rings without at least 2 or more stars, we’ll, unless you’re the ‘04 Det Pistons.

BTW, you’re the first person Inhave ever seen try to make the argument that a team’s toleplayers make stars. That’s crazy. But maybe not as crazy as yout assertion that Tim Duncan Manu Ginonli Tony Paekwe and Kawhi Leonar: would not have been stars if they’ hadn’t played for the Spurs. THAT is hilarious.

Another FYI for you, the Spurs keeping their big 3 together as long as they did was extraordinary. But even the vaunted Spurs had to eventually come down to NBA earth , as they eventually watched Parker and Kawhi bolt.

in summary, modern NBA teams don’t win rings without at least 2 or more stars NO MATTER HOW THOSE TEAMS ARE PUT TOGETHER.

One last thing, when LeBron came to the Lakers, we had ZERO stars. The 2020 championship was built through the draft, trades, and, essentially, one free agent signing. Stop regurgitating what you hear NBA TALKING HEADS SAY. Most of them are just regurgitating stuff they’v do, heard.

 

[Thestral]

Stepping aside from current league talk, this new HBO series about the 80s Lakers sounds like some bullshit:

The scene happens early in the series, when Hughes’ Kareem is working on the classic comedy Airplane! Hughes’ Kareem tells a child actor to “fuck off” when the boy asks for his autograph after their scene.

“I never said ‘fuck off’ to the child actor [Ross Harris] in Airplane!, nor have I ever said that to any child,” Abdul-Jabbar wrote. “I realize this was a shorthand way of showing my perceived aloofness during that time, even though I have often spoken about my intense, almost debilitating shyness. The filmmakers had access to that information, but truth and insight were not on their agenda. Shocking moments were.”

Abdul-Jabbar continued, “There is a victim here, it’s just that it’s not me. My charity, the Skyhook Foundation, provides week-long retreats for inner-city school children to study science while staying in the national forest. For years, I have been visiting schools to promote STEM education. But when people see this show and come away with an impression that I’m verbally abusive to children, they are less likely to support my foundation. That means fewer kids will be able to partake in the program. So Adam McKay is giving those kids a great big ‘fuck off!’ that lasts a lot longer than the easy laugh he got out of a dishonest joke.”

I may be a Lakers anti-fan but how are you gonna disrespect one of the all-time great legends like Kareem (and based on that story, Jerry West and probably others as well).

 

[gblews]

Stepping aside from current league talk, this new HBO series about the 80s Lakers sounds like some bullshit.

There’s a bit of bullshi, aka “dramatic license” and quite a bit of truth. I think the characterizations have caused the most controversy. Jerry west sounds like he might actually sue, because of the damage to his nice guy image. But I know for a stone cold fact that Norm Nixon HATED West. And apparently the show makes Jerry look like a boozer, which Wesr denies, but the one time I ever saw Jerry in the old Forum Club after a game, he was at the bar throwing ‘em back.

] I may be a Lakers anti-fan but how are you gonna disrespect one of the all-time great legends like Kareem (and based on that story, Jerry West and probably others as well).

Yeah, it was unfortunate that McKay felt the need to add those words to the Aorplane scene. It was funny enough as it was.

 

[XCV330]

Morant gets the winning shot in game five against the timberwolves with one second on the clock

 

[gblews]

Morant gets the winning shot in game five against the timberwolves with one second on the clock

Man, this kid…
..

Since Ja came into the league I’v thought he might have “it” meaning the the skill level, athleticism, drive, and most importantly, mental toughness that could make him that guy who is capable the near impossible, to get his team a win at the highest levels. Talking LeBron, Kobe, Jordan, Magic, LeBron territory.

But that is a huge “might.” We have yet to see him in a deep playoff run. Who knows, he might wilt under that pressure, . But he at least, has the look of one of those special guys. We’ll see.

 

[XCV330]

Man, this kid…
..

Since Ja came into the league I’v thought he might have “it” meaning the the skill level, athleticism, drive, and most importantly, mental toughness that could make him that guy who is capable the near impossible, to get his team a win at the highest levels. Talking LeBron, Kobe, Jordan, Magic, LeBron territory.

But that is a huge “might.” We have yet to see him in a deep playoff run. Who knows, he might wilt under that pressure, . But he at least, has the look of one of those special guys. We’ll see.

He gives me that impression too. I hope he's got a great career ahead of him. There's something amazing about watching someone that seems to truly enjoy the game.
But at the same time, and saying this as a long time Grizz fan and former Memphian, that town is a hard place for a good player to get stuck. (kind of going back to that discussion up above) Vince Carter had a long spectacular career but spent most of it in Toronto with out the kind of help it took to get a ring. It's so rare to see Memphis get a serious playoffs run I will enjoy it as long as it lasts. I remember when Jerry West took over and hired Hubie Brown. Hubie saw what he had, saw no stars and put everyone on short minutes, 10 minutes of playtime, and the grindhouse was born. It worked enough to get a winning season and a playoff series, but players hated it.

edit: late edit. I mentioned grindhouse but I probably should not have. No one called the Pyramid that, as far as I know. That term came up later after the move to Beale Street.

 

[gblews]

Congrats to the Warriors for winning their 5th (or 6th?), championship. But mostly, thanks for keeping the Lakers tied for the most championships.

Hard to believe KD left Steph for Kyrie.

On to the draft and free agency.

 

[fireproof78]

Congratulations to the Warriors. Very good game.

 

[Aragorn]

Kevin Durant wants to be traded.

 

[gblews]

Kevin Durant wants to be traded.

And this puts Kyrie in play for real. However, KD is under contract for 4 years, so he has no leverage. After opting in, Kyrie is locked up for 1 year, which means Nets have to trade him by Feb or he walks with no return.

Nets’ fans must be going nuts. They were all over Twitter like they had already won a chip before the two had ever played a game together.

The partying intensified when they got Harden, never mind that they had 3 of the biggest head cases in the NBA under the same roof.

Lol, Steve Nash about to get fired.

 

[Aragorn]

There's a rumor that Brooklyn asked Minnesota to give them Karl Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards and four first round picks in exchange for Kevin Durant.

Minnesota said no.

 

[gblews]

There's a rumor that Brooklyn asked Minnesota to give them Karl Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards and four first round picks in exchange for Kevin Durant.

Minnesota said no.

Yeah, I heard this same rumor. Still have not heard it confirmed as fact, but why nor? It’s just a colorful way of saying, “”we ain’t trading KD.”

They’re not seriously looking to move him in the fotdrrsblr future, unless he starts really acting up, or it becomes obvious it’s not working basketball-wise. Same might also apply to Kyrie except, being in the last year of his deal puts him on a different track.