Hoops

Lakers-Spurs face-off over Kawhi

Any chance LeBron wants isiah Thomas on his team and pretraded him to where he is going?

Lebron has opted out of his current contract. @Cram; Even if he opted in, not all 29 teams were in the running as Lebron routinely has a no-trade clause in his contract which enables him to control his destination (foolish not too). I think he also wouldnt do a sign and trade as he doesn't want his destination team having to give up any assets that would allow them to build around him (use those in trades for other aquisitions). The Lakers are his likely destination now, especially if you believe stories of him trying to recruit KD to the lakers too. The Lakers would be a good destination for him as I think Magic and Pelinka wouldn't be swayed by Lebrons group in signing players to deals that would cripple them into the future; e.g. JR and Tristan T contracts which have hindered Cleveland's options.

The Kawhi for Kyrie rumors are interesting. I dont see Boston giving up a young stud in Brown or Tatum for a potential 1 year rental of Kawhi, especially as his health is still an unknown. So a currently injured 1 year Kawhi for a currently injured 1 year Kyrie would be the best offer I see Boston offering. But having said that SA are unlikely to be interested unless Kyrie is willing to sign an extention.

Although Kawhi to Philly would be very interesting, if he doesnt stay they potentially lose too many young beneficial assets in a conference where their current team is already strong. But if they get Kawhi in a trade they still have max cap room to sign PG or even LBJ - I belive this to be correct.

No offense taken. I'm an old dude so old school. All my sporting teams are for life. My comment about the Lakers needing to win again was more about the organisation itself being one that's used to being successful than a personal need

That's fine. But most have their interest wane because of losing. Credit for being long term.

You have no clue anonymous. Any sporting team I start to follow I follow for life. Geez I support the Eels in the NRL.....a few years of mediocrity is nothing

"You can LOL all you like at winners buddy. Both my teams have done plenty of it since I've followed them (both for over 30 years)"

You are a glory hunter. and yes I LOL at your comment "they need to start winning again" because this is what happens to your type. Another few years of mediocrity and your 30 years of interest in the Lakers will suddenly be over with. Bandwagoner.

IF you wear BBB gear you are either have no idea or doing it to troll. To troll is the only legitimate reason to wear it.

Murmurs of Kawhi for Kyrie.

Now that would be a great deal!

Kyrie also has just the one year remaining on his contract.

I saw a guy today wearing a Lonzo Ball BBB hoodie, embarrassing.

"lol @ the Duke/LA Lakers combo"

You can LOL all you like at winners buddy. Both my teams have done plenty of it since I've followed them (both for over 30 years)

Any team with LeBron on it is a conference finals contender and if you're in the East, then your in Finals contention. You take LBJ out of this years Cavs team and they win 25, maybe 30 games.

"They need to start winning again"

Why?

lol @ the Duke/LA Lakers combo.

My biggest fear is that the Lakers throw everything to the Spurs. Then Lebron doesn't come. Then Leonard breaks down again and we're back to being shite.

Though it would certainly make all the Lakers haters happy. I've followed them since 1980 and not used to being a non factor for so many years. They need to start winning again, though the losing years don't seem to hurt the organisation financially

More interesting than the finals!

Lebron is waiting on the Lakers to get Kawhi to get a clearer picture on what he wants to do.

The Lakers are waiting on Lebron's decision to opt in or opt out to know wheth

Classic case of dominoe's but each are waiting for the other to see how and where the dominoe's are going to fall. (LBJ working to a tighter timeframe though so is going to be forced to make a move tomorrow).

In short; people will draw inferences from tomorrow's opt-in/opt-out decision, but the key point is that he could easily return to Cleveland under any possible scenario. The opt-out/opt-in decision only really gives a clearer picture for the other 29 teams.

IF he opts-in = trade-able to any team (subject of course to acceptable trades)

IF he opt-out = becomes a FA and as I understand it, only Lakers, Philly and Cavs have the cap space or Bird rights to sign him. i.e. the other 27 teams are cooked.

The only thing I can't get my head around (articles haven't mentioned it) - is whether he could simply opt-out, keep all his options open, and then if he did want a trade in a few weeks time, he could simply execute a sign and trade with the Cavs & any of the other 29 teams..if he can still do that in the situation, you'd think he simply opts-out tomorrow to give him the flexibility to get either a sign and trade or a FA move (and not limiting his options to one or the other).

Leonard+LBJ obviously. No chance if just one of those two.

LA will be fine, even if they lose all those young guys.

Remember once LBJ is in LA every free agent will want to play there as it is a storied franchise. The complete opposite to Cleveland.

"Kuzma, Ingram, Hart and two-first round picks for Kawhi ..."

That would be nice indeed!

Unlikely though, you'd think?

Watching espn clips on YouTube, there is already a lot of back channel conversations and you would have to think Lebrons management or extension of have already spoken to lakers about his plans to opt out. He can still re-sign with cavs but it allows other teams to guage what he wants to do.
Also apparently clippers are silently doing business under Jerry West to possibly get kawhi.
Sheesh this time of year is interesting.

"I feel Ingram is one of those 'superstar potential' guys that will never get there"

I know my user names suggest bias....and I am haha. I strongly disagree. I think he's an Allstar in waiting. 16/8/6 were pretty good numbers last season and as he gets stronger will only get better. 6'9 with long arms and point guard handles. His shot mechanics are good and he's going to work that out and I'm sure he'll be great. He's the 1 guy I don't want to see traded but for obvious reasons the guy the Spurs will want

"the current Lakers roster was pretty woeful."

Not this season just past they weren't. They were inconsistent as young (and injury affected) teams can be, but they were in the hunt for a playoff berth in the Western Conference for a long time. They played well against the better teams and had at least a dozen games that were close losses that if they go the other way see them in the playoffs. They also had a few games where everything clicked and they were damn good to watch (CBF going to check if they ended up in front but they led the league in transition scoring for a good part of the season) They had patches where they could be woeful but it wasn't a woeful season.

Saw articles from the NY Times writer suggesting he had heard:

"Kuzma, Ingram, Hart and two-first round picks for Kawhi …"

Great deal for the Spurs IMO.

If true - it shows how desperate the Lakers are to get Kawhi to try and lure Lebron.

Surely the Lakers would be holding off until Lebron's decision tomorrow!

If he decides to opt-in, then the only way the Lakers can get Lebron is by a trade - and if they've given away to much to the Spurs before that, then they'll have very little chips to bargain with.

They'll need to get Kawhi through trades and LBJ through opt-out and FA.

Can't see them getting both through trades as they don't have the pieces (Cavs aren't trading Lebron for scraps - Cavs will simply send Lebron elsewhere).

As much as I dislike Ball and really doubt his ability, the Spurs could turn him into one helluva player (even if Pop only has 2 or so years to work with him).

Personally, I think LBJ will stay with Cleveland.

He will maneuver a trade for Kemba Walker (as well as looking at making trades elsewhere) and will return with another strong Cavs lineup built around Lebron, Walker and Love.

The lakers HAVE to trade a few of their young guns if you have a shot at Leonard who is in his mid twenties and with arguably a top 5 of all time in Lebron hopefully following. Otherwise the rebuild will take a few more years. And cost more later.
I personally hope Kuzma stays as Ball needs to get out on his own without the bright lights.
Lakers need this to work.
I assume Ingram is gone if the trade goes through.

*Deserves to be booed all around the league

Unfortunately no one outside of San Antonio really cares about the Spurs so Leonard won't get treated too badly, but he deserves to be aggressively booed. I can't think of a more extreme case of a player disrespecting his team and the game than Leonard's over the past year. Disgusting behaviour, I feel for Spurs fans. I'm not one to jump to conclusions, but I am in this situation. He is clearly trying to force the Spurs hand while hiding away from media and not facing the music about his conduct

People have been talking about stars going to LA for ... a decade?

I agree with above.

People have been talking about stars going to LAL for months now; but is there current core of players really that good and stable to suggest that stars could simply come in and automatically challenge GSW and Houston to even get to the finals.

The way I see it, LAL doesn't have any more of a better core than a lot of other teams in the league - the only linkage there is because Lebron (apparently) wants to go to LA (and they have salary space)

"Lebron + Kawhi with IT and some support guys, you might have a shot."


Lebron with IT, Ingram, Kuzma, Randle, Lonzo (just wish the father would go away) and some other pieces they can get through free agency and they have a shot as well. After the pain of recent seasons I'm just not sure if it's worth trading away future allstars that we've developed through the draft for someone who's shown a questionable attitude. Yes, loads of talent, but happy to spit the dummy and sit out if he's not getting stroked enough. I'm not 100% sure it will come to to both or neither. If they can get James without having to trade away their young stars I'd be happier

There is a snowflakes chance in hell the Lakers depart with Kuzma and Ingram. They are the 2 best pieces so I imagine one of them will be tied up in the deal but not both.

At which position(s) do the Spurs have most need?

I'm with Duke Fan here as a Lakers guy. On one hand they should do everything they can to get a talent like Leonard but I'd be hesitant in giving up too much of the young core. A Randle, Hart (who always seemed like a Spurs guy when he was at Villanova) plus future picks and cash for Leonard trade would be ideal. Ingram would be the only player of that young Laker group I would not want to involve but it may take that for a deal to be done.

As a Lakers fan Ingram is the last guy I want them to give up. Potential superstar. They can have Lonzo. Don't want to lose Kuzma or Randle either

I could see Kawhi going to the Lakers for Ingram. I think Ingram has the tools to develop into a very similar player to Leonard and the Spurs certainly have a track record of getting the most out of their players. Certainly wouldn't be surprised if a deal like that went down and then in 2-3 years the Spurs are still around the mark with Ingram leading the way.

Scott Butler moving interstate for work, so the Sturt job will be advertised soon, I reckon.