[tblazer_NZParticipant]

4yr deal -$137m 

Per ESPN. I can’t copy the link ATM 

 

 

[Ahkasi ClayParticipant]

 Good for him.

RUSS should throw him a big party!

 

[Ahkasi ClayParticipant]

So happy he stayed away from The Lakers

[MopgrassParticipant]

 I’m trying to figure what’s going on.

 

  I think a whole lot of tampering has been happening. First LA wants PG13 and he asks for a trade. Lakers get fined twice over it. Then Leonard stops playing for the Spurs and asks to go to LA? There’s something to this, right? I assume this is why San Antonio is asking for the farm: they think LA tampered and got Leonard to ditch the playoffs. How willing would you be to deal with the Lakers if you thought that was true?

 

 Mitch Kupcheck was a play by the rules guy and it’s one of the reasons they ditched him. They knew everyone else in the league was sneaky and they thought that’s why LA didn’t get free agents (it was cause Mitch is out of touch). Magic is supposed to be the guy that “gets it,” but what team has to have a meeting where they gather the entire staff and tell THEM not to tamper? Probably tamperers. This is the part I think I understand. The part I understand: LeBron. 

 

I’ve been assuming LeBron is pulling strings. Maybe pulling all of them. Was he the one talking to Leonard before playoffs? He showed up in LA right before free agency kicked off (though he does live there). But he received his first free agency call from Cleveland and at 12:01. Mean anything? 

 

Paul George is gone and I don’t think the Spurs want to deal with the Lakers. For the sake of leverage, I think the Lakers tell the Spurs that LeBron would join LA if they get Cousins, but I think that would be a bluff. Cousins will be out most, if not all of the year. No way. Bluff. 

 

If LA can’t swing Leonard, I don’t think they get LeBron (this year). 

 

Cousins is a nice option. Their core develops without him and the next year they have him plus maybe Leonard. I might be wrong by the time morning rolls around, but I don’t think this is the summer of LA. 

 

If it isn’t, they should retain Randle, try for Cousins, and find some cheap, young shooters. Also, eat some salary from the Nuggets since they’re supposedly offering a 1st rounder for absorbing contracts (especially if Porter is the 1st rounder). LA is already tied to this possible trade (to entice the Spurs). 

 

 

[SubZeroParticipant]

Lebron pulling the strings and getting Kawhi to sit out and ruin his relationship with the Spurs to try and get him to LA is an incredible conspiracy theory. I don’t necessarily believe it, but I’ll put my tinfoil hat on anyway because that one’s way more interesting than the usual ones

[MopgrassParticipant]

 It’s a stretch. I’m trying to find a reason for what happened. Either the Spurs were woefully dismissive of Leonard’s injuries (which doesn’t seem like them) or Leonard was sitting out the the playoffs because he had decided  to go to another team. Which one is it? Both seem unlikely. One is true. 

[jacobkeyParticipant]

Who’d have thought two super stars from the LA area would turndown the Lakers in back-to-back years to sign with the Thunder. Crazy.

[no skillsParticipant]

 so happy for okc! its a win for them and for small markets in general. 

[SubZeroParticipant]

Can’t wait to see how Cowherd spins this to say people don’t like being on a team with Russ

Also what got lost in the PG hype is that Jerami Grant resigned for 3 yrs/$27 million. That’s a huge steal imo and I’m super excited for that move too. I didn’t think there was any way we’d be able to resign him but we got him for a good price

Now if only we can solve this Melo situation……….

[BasterdInABasketParticipant]

 Best to disregard what guys like Cowherd and Bayless say. Outrageous personalities, no playing experience, no sources, no insider knowledge, just a big platform to spew nonsense.

[ZouldiersParticipant]

 These guys flip flop their opinions in a few weeks especially Cowherd. Examples of this is when Cowherd shows his top 10 teams in the NFL per week.

[SubZeroParticipant]

Oh yeah I know, I wouldn’t even be surprised if it was in their contracts with FS1 to just say the most outlandish things and be as reactionary as possible

[BasterdInABasketParticipant]

 Make the extra 48 Million, avoid Cali State taxes, smart move on his part. He’ll be signing another NBA contract, he can go there if he’s that desperate to play for the Lakers, which the media obviously makes it out to be more than it is given signings in recent years.

[Taylor Gang MikeParticipant]

 Weak move. 

[Taylor Gang MikeParticipant]

 And about Cowherd, this has everything to di with PG. He is a second fiddle, he didn’t want the pressure of staying home. George settled for a bad team. OKC isnt near a championship team

[CameronCrazy11Participant]

OKC is a lot closer to being a championship team than Lakers. If Paul George went to LA along with LeBron, he would still be second fiddle.

[Andv1 WaitingParticipant]

There is two sides to every coin which one can look at with this signing(sorry for the novel).

The things that may have stopped him sigining with the Lakers:

P.G’s agent-Who he has known for since he came into the league and has tight relationship has had 2 of his reasoanble names screwed a little by this current management- Dangelo Russell(traded) Julius(Constant trade rumors and average handling of Contract talks-watch randle get screwed now lol). This could have worked against them as it showed they had little loyalty to his team meaning he could sign then be shipped vs OKC who have a bit more loyalty to key pieces(They learnt from James harden trade mistake).

They had no other big names locked up that would make them instant contenders either and are even further behind the Thunder.

The Lonzo injury leak which means he may not be fully healthy come training camp(Just a side note this seems a slightly worrying trend with their P.G’s Russell had the same issue and also had PRP). Meaning they may not have a great start to the season if he isn’t ready. Also the Media leaks all the time vs handling things in house vs OKC in regards to issues.

The Kobe Shadow…The lakers winning legacy could scare some players if they fail.

The Lebron Shadow-If he comes you could be relegated to 2nd or maybe even 3rd option vs 1b/2 in OKC..Plus there is the Blame game with Lebron teams.

What is going for Lakers: Young core which does look promising if they keep going the right direction + Cap to bring in two stars to add to them. Their scouting team also isn’t have bad when picking rookies.

He has to go through building chemistry again…

Vs

OKC what worked for them:

You have an MVP walking tripple double in Westbrook who gets you easier looks than you ever had.

A Center who is up and coming in Adams who also makes your scoring opportunities easier for you.Who is better than Lakers current center and possibly Boogie(while he recovers that is) if he goes there.

Your best player is locked up to a similar time table vs Lebron doing 1+1 all the time and could bail any second on you leaving you in a mess(if that is the main selling point).

You can build on the Chemistry from last year and start moving forward with the a top 3 ranked starting five in the league(pre roberson injury that is).

You have a front office that will take risks to build around their stars vs Waiting for things to happen.

His brand has actually improved in OKC(See his Shoes sales) and that Westbrook is marketable and doing well in a small market has proven he will still make money in a smaller market..

He gets more exposure in OKC(More nationally televised games lakers have improved though).

He made All NBA and Allstar in OKC

Less tax compared to L.A (apparently) meaning more take home pay…

Less distractions in OKC vs L.A.

The Negatives to OKC: Their maybe some cap issues like the Cavs in the coming future unless Presti gets creative and what shape will Roberson be in when he is back?

 

[HitsterParticipant]

 The Sam Presti gamble last summer paid off. PG13 perhaps feels he has a longer window alongside Westbrook who is 29 than LBJ who is 33 now. Plus the deal gives PG13 a chyance to become a free agent again in 2021 when he’d be 31, so he could get another huge deal then.

The Lakers possible big 3 of LBJ, PG13 and Kawhi won’t happen. So does it increase the Spurs leverage on any Lakers offer for Kawhi or if the big 3 won’t happen does LBJ look elsewhere or stay put. Could the Lakers look to get LBJ but position the team for 2019 cap space when Kawhi would be a FA or come calling later in the season when Kawhi’s contract is running down.

 

[CynthiaParticipant]

You all know I’m a Thunder fan, and I’m legit shocked. I thought he was gone a year ago when he first signed, I just knew he would be a rental. This is maybe the happiest I’ve ever been to be wrong!

[halfdecayedParticipant]

 God if Melo had opted out they could have filled the team with great role players.. Bradley Smart Ariza etc. Could have been huge.. Sorry but I don’t see them doing anything more than they did last year.. Theu lost to the Jazz damn cmon Mitchell the rookie cooked PG the whole series lmao.. Hope Roberson is healthy he could have made a difference but this doesnt put them over the Rockets or the damn Warriors.. If im the Lakers I dont roll the dice on Cousins and sign a couple of 1 year deals and wait for Kawhi next year.. Retain Randle and Zhope Lebron. ns anyway

 

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