No idea what happened to the first post, so let's start this again.

Where we last left off:

PG stays with OKC
Chris Paul signs with Houston for 4 years, $160 million
KD re-signs to the GSW with a one and one
DeAndre Jordan to the Mavs for a year
Nuggets re-sign Jokic for $148 million and Barton $54 for Will Barton
Ariza to Phoenix for a year
Rapots re-sign VanVleet for two years
Spurs re-sign Rudy Gay for q year, $10 million and bring back Bellinelli for two years
Ilyasova to the Bucks for three years and $21 million
Pacers sign McDermott
Ed Davis to Brooklyn for one year and Joe Harris for two years
Baynes re-signs with Celtics for two years
Rose re-signs with Wolves for league minimum
Grizzlies sign Omri Casspi
and a few others I'm forgetting.

And LeBron met with Philly in LA. Word is he'll announce where he's going on Tuesday.

Have at it.

Something along those lines. I don't think the Sixers are in the business of moving Simmons.

I guess PJ Tucker gets a bigger role and they needed that guap for CP3 and Capela's raises.

https://mobile.twitter.com/wojespn/status/1013574987909824512

.

cotdamn! It's Boston, Philly fighting over a wasteland.

16 best overall teams.

yeah they might need to gon head and restructure the playoff format now.

either that or just rename the western conference playoffs the playoffs.

-->

Maybe the Pacers, too.

Meanwhile, it's not a lock that the team with Lebron James will be a top 4 seed in the West.

There might be six legit playoff teams in the East depending on how the rest of the offseason shakes out.

Boston, Indy, Philly, Detroit (please god keep reggie healthy), Toronto, Washington should all be genuinely good. obviously some better than others.

And it definitely won't be true next year, either.

If anything - the era of Kang being over will invigorate the division. People clown Toronto - but they will have something to say about the EC crown. Boston is championship-ready - Philly isn't far away. Indy is most improved and quite good. Washington/Miami are better than most give them credit

-->

the good is that they win more than they should

the bad is if thats OVER-achievement...they arent actually very good

.

Bron should've done this in 2010 and played with Kobe. OKS might've exploded...

I knew it was coming last year when it was revealed that Bron purchased two mansions in LA. At that point he was gone. Kobe has to weigh in on this at some point. His proper perspective of Lebron eventually gets questioned since Bron joined the Lakers.

Sucks to see him go but he did what was best for his family. When a business in Cleveland capitalizes off Bron leaving anyone dissing the city as degenerates/mad can kick rocks. My only issue with him leaving is forcing short-term moves that fucked our cap space. We're in cap hell for a good few years off those decisions.

Wish Bron success as he leads us to victories in LA.

.

He's going to a young, inexperienced team that missed the playoffs - *in the West* --- this dude just continues to take on unimaginable challenges.

-->

.

I mean I know that plenty on the boards here will be like "Bron jumped ship in Cleveland and went to an elite young team who can carry the load!" - but this was the highest degree of difficulty move he could've made.

-->

that this was the most difficult move. I feel that would be staying in Cleveland. It took everything he had in his spirit to beat the Indy and the Celtics in 7. Philly with another year under their belts and Boston getting back 2 All Stars...Cleveland getting back to the Finals was FAAAAAR from a lock.

that was staying pat.

He could've gone to Philly, Boston, Houston, GS etc...

All of those teams are away more championship-ready. This wasn't a basketball decision, clearly. He wants his son playing there and his family there - has a lot of off-the-court business moves to make and is launching his foundation HQ in L.A.

That said - Kawhi is coming at the latest next year - so this could turn into a very good basketball team. He's setting himself up for an insane challenge tho - but if he delivers? If he wins a chip in L.A. on this team?

yikes.


-->

Cleveland and LA at least. Miami less so. We'll see how much closer this gets to that type of situation

like half of em aint bout to get shipped out lol.

has a crazy new significance to it.

-->

.

Magic had a reason to be confident. But this 4-year deal signals to free agents that this isn't just a one-and-done.

I gotta believe that Kawhi is coming.

-->

Unless this is Bron deciding he wants to retire in LA to set up the next phase of his life, he doesn't usually lock himself in for too long.

.

https://twitter.com/Stu_Bangas/status/1013585681191489536?s=19

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
<---- 5....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dlgiritpmfo

=======================================

-->

Angrier about this than I am the Lakers getting Lebron.

https://giphy.com/gifs/fallout-new-vegas-n1hXtXtsmvvfW

Not a chance in hell, right?

Everyone who has made an All-NBA first team in the last four years now plays in the Western Conference

https://twitter.com/DanFeldmanNBA/status/1013580488580173824

Asking for a friend.

https://twitter.com/Schultz_Report/status/1013555511009136644

Would not trade Simmons for him

.

https://twitter.com/BSO/status/1013601947121737729?s=19

.

I was waiting for them to do something stupid.

.

-->

I don’t see how they compete anytime soon how this year’s Free Agency is unfolding or with their current squad.

and the rookies improve as much as they already have, they'll be at least contenders.

I had actually just looked at Summer League rosters for the game today so I was thinking about his rookie year before I saw your post. Interested to see if his perimeter confidence has increased

I think his jumper will be okay. He has to work on his body and get it up to snuff to where he can stay on the court consistently for long stretches and not get those little nagging injuries that keep him out.

I want to see some chemistry with him and Marv though.

Now he might not make the 2nd round in the West.

But people acting like I'm bugging.

Assuming Bron stays healthy, It’s them, okc, and Utah for spots 3-5. Bron isn’t losing to the Wolves or Blazers.

LeBron would still be the best player between the two teams, but Karl Anthony Towns should absolutely feast against the current Lakers line-up, assuming the Demarcus Cousins move isn't true. Assuming the offense flows through Karl Anthony Towns, solid supporting numbers from Butler should be enough for the T Wolves to dispatch the Lakers in a seven game series.

and barely took the ball inside.

especially in the first 2 games.

>I don’t see how they compete

Cool. Barring significant injury? Second round at minimum this year. I'd call that competing, personally.

for a title.

I don't see it this year with that roster.

if he wanted to compete immediately, there were far better options

That maybe gets them to a WCF. And that depends on the draw and health status of the rest of the west.

I think LeBron would have signed a much shorter deal in case the Kawhi deal doesn't go down and he has an escape hatch. Four years is a hell of a commitment.

Lots of young, high draft picks on the roster right now....at least one if not more could be very, very good by the time the 2020 playoffs come around, or traded to bring in another established very good player.

It’s hard to know how things will look right now. This roster has a lot of potential though IMO.

the only thing they were missing is a lead dog. they're about to eat.

they will have to deal with the west, but they are not scrubs

Thinking Philly or OKC.

.

Would've loved to see Bron with them. Loved watching them this year and it will only get more fun for them.

-->

Throughout the Cavs-Pacers series - I kept saying: "I'd do anything to have Lance on the Cavs"

-->

.

.

I like this.

-->

Gave his all to the Dubs for two seasons and did everything we asked of him. No complaints at all about him at all.

i think i know what you mean, but c'mon man...

that hasn't even made the playoffs in like 5 years.

The Warriors didn't have a winning culture at pretty much any point in the last few decades until 2015. But we don't say "lol, winning cluture, a few good years have yall forgetting when Patrick O'Bryant was a top 10 pick."

What an odd thing to get upset about.

the lakers are cloaked in victory

Basketball games are won by basketball players and basketball coaches, not "legacies of winning" or whatever the fuck.

The Lakers will be better this year because Lebron James is a very good basketball player who makes other, less good basketball players better at basketball. It won't be because the memories of 1972 have been reawakened.

>the lakers are cloaked in victory

only because your savior and new BFF is here: LeBron Jams.

-->

The new FO has changed a lot of the cultural organization and on the court, there was a completely differrent product - namely, we went from the worst defensive team in the league to 12th (with the 2nd youngest roster in the league). Defensive identify and the constant effort required are two huge building blocks of a winning culture.

The team was already on its way but, of course, Lebron reinforces all of that.

>on the court, there was a completely differrent product -
>namely, we went from the worst defensive team in the league to
>12th (with the 2nd youngest roster in the league). Defensive
>identify and the constant effort required are two huge
>building blocks of a winning culture.

It's barely been 12 hours and all I've seen are hot takes from Lakers/LeBron fans about how they're winning it all until 2025 or something. I'm getting my shots in.

Which means the Warriors haven't made the playoffs since 2007, so you should really fix your own drought first.

Russ (BK)
Oak (doubt he'll be back in BK)
Zingis
Hezonja
Mudiay

and he was saying AD has made it CLEAR that he wants Cuz back...that they really learned how to play together. Pels better not piss that dude off.

Shams already said that we're meeting with Julius today to hash out a deal...so unless Cuz wants to take a vet min, he isn't coming.

.

*skatin' the rings of saturn*


..and miles to go before i sleep...

.

JJ has now made 33 in the last 2 years to bridge him to his final long-term deal next summer (when cap space opens up for a bunch of teams)

Belinelli and Ily

Meaning we can go over the cap to sign him. The FO is playing chess, Pelinka has always been known to be a cap mastermind and he's showing it.

you drafted shooting, pay your defensive specialist

JJ is a past his prime 1 trick pony

past his prime is true, but tbh hes way better than he has any right to be at his age

with the clippers he kinda faded back. with philly he was good at times against miami, had a real tough series against boston though

.

His D looked nothing special to me

Which means only vet min and room level exceptions. Having his bird rights gives us the capability to re-sign a 3&D player outright.

Lol but freal, you're one of the few here who actually responds to logic and good debate

As bad as he was in the Boston series, he was excellent down the stretch and a leader on a young roster. Losing him and Bellinelli would have been tough.

.

Unless he goes for the TPMLE.....which I highly doubt.

That should help clear the way for Westbrook to average 34 rebounds next year.

it works. Nerlens gonna be Stevens backup and at times I'm sure they will play he and Jerami at the same time. Two dudes who run like gazelles, are long as hell and can protect the rim, plus dunk from anywhere.

but I was serious about that being a good big man tandem, at least on paper.

.

and then Russ and PG both reached out.

>.

Bad for Nerlens though. He turned down 70 mil.

Good fit for OKC, too, I guess he will play a role similar to what Taj Gibson did there.

Only a one year deal, but he's a solid replacement for Bjelly assuming Thibs doesn't find a reason to hate him.

youre gonna LOVE him.

But I see he REALLY upped his 3 point shooting, which we desperately need.

.

https://twitter.com/theScore/status/1013881797631987712

not at all what anyone expected, lots of small signings, letting randle walk, etc.

But...I'm enjoying it.

they couldn't work out a trade they would let him walk

I think he was just soured by his experience last year.

Woooow. Weird that NO was like "we still want him even though we got Payton" and then BANG, he's gone.

This Lakers team is shaping up kind of weirdly but I admit I am intrigued.

What's happening

Is Ball going to the Spurs?

I actually think Rondo/Ball would be a great 1-2 at the point and Rondo could teach him how to survive as a heady PG who can't shoot

.

https://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/sports/pelicans/article_18319132-7df9-11e8-a64d-afa67ea714a6.html

https://clutchpoints.com/pelicans-news-anthony-davis-buys-home-near-los-angeles/

https://clutchpoints.com/pelicans-news-anthony-davis-buys-home-near-los-angeles/

Now I gotta pay attention to this mess. Smh!

people who were supposedly his "rivals" and "haters" are running to L.A. at warp speed.
-->

https://tenor.com/view/who-said-that-rhoa-gif-8227860

not exactly a team of superstars here

..'cause I thought the general consensus was that nobody wanted to play in Cleveland.

I don't think it had anything to do with Bron.


*skatin' the rings of saturn*


..and miles to go before i sleep...

bron, lance, rondo, lavar. thats a lot of personality to juggle right there.

https://twitter.com/JeffDuncan_/status/1013905868713230338

Murph was here.......

the Lakers' offer was too good. If they felt that way, why the hell did they bring in Elfrid Peyton?

.

https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1013919134357315584

Not a Fan, just a fan.

But I'm glad he wound up in a good situation.

.

That was when he asked to be renounced and fair enough.

The Lakers have plenty of players but losing him for nothing is kinda strange.

.

____________________

<================== Learn the name now before everyone gets dunked on

We just added one more


I love it


He will fall right in line too with this championship pedigree

The data in year 1 back from achilles repair for athletes is not very good and this gives DMC time to gradually get back in. On the other hand, W's take a chance and they weren't getting anyone better for the MLE

And that is crazy. But kinda true.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
<---- 5....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dlgiritpmfo

=======================================

honestly the Sixers need to include Fultz in that deal with Saric and make it happen...

honestly think that's a super move for the Sixers....

plus I don't want the Lakers to trade BI or Kuzma …


even if Kawhi wouldn't stay with Philly ..with him for a season sets them up to be a super appealing spot to next years class of FAs

If that's true, that front office is stupid as hell.

trading for the best player available, someone who's potentially a top 5 player, and giving up neither of their current top 2?

especially after holding on to nerlens and jahlil too long.

they got to roll the dice on the process eventually....

1) In a scenario where they pitch LeBron that they are getting Kawhi and he accepts, OK, pull the trigger on Fultz+Bayless+Saric+1st (and potentially another pick). You have a HUGE four that way plus Roco, Smith and whatever else straggles in through the doggy door. But now there is no LeBron so they have to worry about rotation, fit, talent, etc a lot more than if there were. There's JJ Redick now. LeSigh.

2) The Lakers spent their money now, anything they're doing now probably involves one good player, Luol Deng's shitty contract and some package of picks, none of which are very good. That means competition is weaker, though they are not the only game in town, obviously. So now it appears it will be 2 roster players, two picks and any necessary filler, but which two roster players? Which two picks? They have to negotiate their way to the best deal. I do *not* think Fultz will ultimately hold up the deal, unless they know something about Leonard's health, or something positive about Fultz's, that the public does not.

3) There is also the dance of who might take a shitty contract back here. Bayless is not a bad deal because he's expiring, but on the Spurs' end they might be trying to unload someone.

Basically what I am saying is that this is just negotiation. I do not think Fultz will end up holding up the deal. I do think that the Spurs probably value Saric a lot, he is a very Pop-esque player. I'd be sorry to see him go but I am with you, they have to roll the dice on this.

changes Fultz availability..

but we'll see..

I honestly don't see how the Spurs take that deal..I'd try to make a deal with the Celtics if I were them..

He should a went to LA.

Guess he wants that ring. Can't blame him I guess

Can't say boogie not a winner no more.

warriors playing 3D chess. errbody else on some rock paper scissors.

they're just different, man.

I've heard people say that fans would be shocked to see the number of scenarios that they have mapped out.

And it certainly puts a smile on my face knowing the capital D is huge part is putting all this together.

no other offers coming in lol

these dudes have zero confidence. 4 hall of famers not enough!
-->

____________________

<================== Learn the name now before everyone gets dunked on

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
<---- 5....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dlgiritpmfo

=======================================

I mean props to the FO - they've built a place people want to go to - guys want to play in that system - but at some point you've got to just be like "yea we good - we got more than enough" and be confident in your already disproportionate stacking of talent.

Lakers would need to sign Kawhi *and* AD to even be close from a talent perspective to this squad.

-->

This team is trying to be a historically great organization. The Spurs are the model: be great over a long period of time. Build your core, then fill in the "holes" with the best pieces available whenever you need to.

LOL @ them giving two shits about whether or not other teams in the NBA can compete with them.

There’s a difference between creating a winning
culture and all-time greatness, and just being a
ho.



Draymond working the phones every off season-
especially after 3 of 4 chips- is weird at best.

What’s competitive about constantly recruiting
the best FAs out there? Just ride with you squad.

Tweak things? Sure.

But have Draymond out there recruiting at this
point?

Nah. That’s fucking corny.

I know some of us (rightfully) shit on the Heatles
recruiting Ray Allen.

Same standards should apply.

So if we're drawing comparisons between that and this, I don't care in either instance.

Second of all, Draymond has always shown a desire to be involved in front office things. Hell, he did scouting for the draft and he was in the team's war room draft night. He's a student of the game and knows more about a lot of players coming up than a lot of guys in the league.

Third of all, he's trying to win long term. So if the team is trying to sign Cousins, and they ask him to make a call and encourage him to sign, why wouldn't he? Other players do it all the time.

Smart players don't want to stand pat. They want their teams to always be the best that they can be.

>Draymond working the phones every off season-
>especially after 3 of 4 chips- is weird at best.
>
>What’s competitive about constantly recruiting
>the best FAs out there? Just ride with you squad.
>
>Tweak things? Sure.
>
>But have Draymond out there recruiting at this
>point?
>
>Nah. That’s fucking corny.
>
>I know some of us (rightfully) shit on the Heatles
>recruiting Ray Allen.
>
>Same standards should apply.


Stop fronting like this doesn't happen on every team, and in every locker room.

Y'all act like players on each team all all best friends or that each team shares the same family environment. Like players aren't friends with some of their opponents (off the court). Like better teams don't plot & scheme to recruit and push for improvement.

You're delusional.

Teams retool every year to improve for the next campaign. No one is off limits.

Championship orgs know this.




*skatin' the rings of saturn*


..and miles to go before i sleep...

>these dudes have zero confidence. 4 hall of famers not
>enough!
>-->

if Boogies is available and will take only 5 million, why wouldn't they sign him?

Warriors once again out maneuvering Bron on the chess board

..'cause even with the injury, signing him for cheap is a win/win scenario for the year.

He's in the best position ever:

rehab without pressure to return prematurely.

the Warriors are tweaking their roster towards improvement for every campaign, as championship orgs should.


*skatin' the rings of saturn*


..and miles to go before i sleep...

I'd feel one way if we were a young team developing talent, but no moves at all Ernie? None? I'm sick.

https://twitter.com/StephenCurry30/status/1013945339244527616

And his reward for it will be no more fucking rings for the rest of his career. Good.

Showing everyone they can choose their own fate to win "not 1, not 2 not 3..." Also means you can't whine and Bitch about it when they do. You wanted AAU basketball to digest in heaps and bounds... So eat up.

https://twitter.com/blk_tray/status/1013950328180359168?s=19

only idiots can't see this.

.

peace & blessings,

x.

www.twitter.com/poetx

=========================================
I'm an advocate for working smarter, not harder. If you just
focus on working hard you end up making someone else rich and
not having much to show for it. (c) mad

*WE got Rondo but there's a problem. Bron doesn't play off the ball. He knows two plays and now he's got to learn how to play the game the right way. Rondo isn't patient and known for having a temper.. We're going to be great because this has to work. If Luke can't win 56 games with this roster something's wrong.


* Denotes Lakers fandom since Kobe's first workout for the Lakers prior to them trading for him

Akatsuki rises this fall in LA. Got my special edition Lakers float with clouds on.

>*WE got Rondo but there's a problem. Bron doesn't play off
>the ball. He knows two plays and now he's got to learn how to
>play the game the right way. Rondo isn't patient and known for
>having a temper.. We're going to be great because this has to
>work. If Luke can't win 56 games with this roster something's
>wrong.

I thought you were a Cavs fan?


>* Denotes Lakers fandom since Kobe's first workout for the
>Lakers prior to them trading for him

FOH with that bullshit.



*skatin' the rings of saturn*


..and miles to go before i sleep...

i never fooled w/ 2k like that, but this is some ol' back in the day madden gm'ing ish.

LA / labronistan got to feel all hopeful for less than a day?

this is nuts. i was sad to see javale go, but happy for him. he performed very well for the dubs and rehabbed his image crazy on some 'flip my career' ish. hope he does well in LA.

i figured GSW wasn't spending the mid level exemption on him.

boogie, tho?

damn.

lol.

*leans back and watches the same ppl be mad who was mad happy about whatever additional hypothetical superteam bron could put together*

and for the record, i got tremendous respect for lbj. in addition to GOAT he might go down in history on some curt flood shit for the FA flexing. and i'm glad he was like, 'deuces' to gilbert.

league is crazy right now.

>*leans back and watches the same ppl be mad who was mad happy
>about whatever additional hypothetical superteam bron could
>put together*


http://board.okayplayer.com/okp.php?az=show_topic&forum=8&topic_id=2661575&mesg_id=2661575&listing_type=search#2661724

>*leans back and watches the same ppl be mad who was mad happy
>about whatever additional hypothetical superteam bron could
>put together*

Alvin Gentry or Anthony Davis?

.

They look poised to do some damage, even looked
good without Cousins, then let Boogie and Rondo
walk?

Trade AD to the Lakers and get it over with.

no one else did. It worked. The fuck was he supposed to do? NOT try to get the best MF out there?

https://twitter.com/samesfandiari/status/1013944254832365568?s=19

.

i can't wait for the first asshole to call this move lazy or selfish

I've just never seen Twitter collectively lose its shit like it did tonight. Not even after Durant, lmao.

I don't even think it's such a lock to be the type of swing that people think, considering we don't know how the injury will recover, when he'll get back, how rusty he'll be, etc. There's a decent enough chance we never see full-blown Boogie this year. Which is why the signing makes sense for him-- a situation where he isn't really needed, but he can show his recovery, play efficient ball, and hopefully grab a ring to earn him some clout for the next deal.

But I couldn't say that around most of my non-Warrior NBA fans. They all think this wrapped it up in a bow, no point in watching next year, etc. They're just mad.

...in record time.

I wonder what the fuck happened between him and N.O., man.

I get not offering Boogie the max, but the Lakers
threw 1 year deals out to dudes like Rondo
and Lance....but couldn’t make it work for
Cousins? Seems like they are basically punting
till next summer, why not throw some coin at
Boogie?

I don’t get that.

This off season has been strange as fuck when you
think about it.

Nobody else gives him a better shot at a ring.

To buy one.

But I’m just scratching my head that LA couldn’t
put something together for him that would make
him sign.

More money, playing with Bron, chip potential
next year when K comes, etc.

I guess my point is I’m surprised all LA can get
outside of Bron is the likes of Stephenson.

Figured other moves were coming this summer.

I kinda suspect that their feeler about how little he might take got these other teams in on it. Speaking more generally, it makes sense for him to leave money on the table for one year, come back healthy and win a chip to get his value back to max level. He can cash in big next summer as long as his body doesn't betray him.

https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1013962415271182336

Of the front Office had just swung for the fences
and gotten pleasantly surprised, that’s one thing.

But Draymond out recruiting for a team that’s won
3 of 4?

Nah. At some point you just gotta be competitive and
loyal to the squad you have on some “no one can
beat us” shit...not working the phones some 30 days
removed from a parade.

That’s ho shit.

Dude is a cornball.

you want green and durant to take less money, but draw the line at their paychecks? i get his drive. it's why he's gotten this far.

fuck draymond, though. i hope they trade him to minny or utah or some bullshit.

“We already got 3 MBAs here, we gonna pass on this 4th one and go with this nigga taking his GED test tomorrow”

This is a competitive sport where the idea is
to beat your peers.



Not consistently recruit them to join you.

Why even play at that point?

Nah, this is fucking lame.

plus dray's obviously a guy who cares about winning and talking shit way more than false degree of difficulty


the issue of whether their ideas about competition are satisfying and marketable to fans is a separate one, but that's not a problem for current players.

You recruit the best to stay on top of your competition. Apple isn’t going to pass on the best engineer because they have a near trillion dollar evaluation. Same reason the Warriors shouldn’t pass on All-Star free agents. You’re in this to win, not satisfy some internet trolls code of the streets.

"you're already the best, why are you trying to get better?"

this is literally the opposite of how extremely successful ppl think.

>this is literally the opposite of how extremely successful ppl
>think.

not really. Elon Musk isn't out here calling up Bill Gates like "come join me at Tesla and let's take over the world!"

He's always trying to improve - but that doesn't mean improving means just buying out talent so that you don't have to really actually have to improve as an individual.


-->

elon musk doesn't recruit bill gates for the same reason that joe lacob doesn't recruit peter holt or jeanie buss.

but if you think that the actual engineers, executives, etc at tesla or google or apple don't recruit their counterparts who work for their competitors then you're naive and misguided.

lots of CEOs at fortune 500s were previously CEOs at *other* fortune 500s.

Why doesn't he do that? Because he has supreme confidence in himself and doesn't believe anybody in the world can do a better job than him in running his company. Sure - he'll bring in support pieces and recruit the best talent he can - but that's not what the Warriors are doing. They are recruiting more and more superstars so that the current superstars don't really have to do as much or grow as much as individual talents. That's great for the team, of course - but arguably not great at all for KD & Steph's quest to become the best players they can be. But they've changed the game and likely don't care about all of that (although if that's the case why is KD so sensitive when people have this critique).


-->

Particularly since signing free agents and making trades is a primary method of improving an NBA team.

The other tried and true method drafting well and building1 organically, from within.

That one team is an anomaly who built their monster organically, and then were in position to take advantage of freak circumstances, and to a more significant degree, doesn't change that fundamental fact.

what the Warriors are doing w/ what any team prior to them has done.

Simple simons are up on this board like "OH WELL YOU WEREN'T SAYING ANYTHING WHEN MIAMI HAPPENED!"

Well, aside from the obvious - Miami didn't go out and recruit Paul Pierce or D. Rose after they beat him. They then didn't sign Dwight Howard and have an all-star lineup of 5 legit all-stars.

So if you say "well the name of the game is to gobble up as much talent as possible" that's one thing - but to equate this to anything else is basic simp shit.

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not one, not two, not three....that was talk from people who thought they'd lapped the competition.

And he conveniently went out there and saved LeBron's ass against the spurs. There you go with more dumb shit!

Warriors have 5 all-stars in their prime.

Try again.


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>Why even play at that point?
>
>Nah, this is fucking lame.

Why?

>Nah. At some point you just gotta be competitive and
>loyal to the squad you have on some “no one can
>beat us” shit...not working the phones some 30 days
>removed from a parade.

Why?

>That’s ho shit.

Do you have a sound, logical basis for this?

He told Spears that he had his agent contact the Warriors. Then the front office and Steph, KD, and Draymond all talked to him.

So, what, was the team supposed to tell him to piss off?

..without bias.


*skatin' the rings of saturn*


..and miles to go before i sleep...

Just do it like a Euro soccer league. Also, a season long tournament between the Wolves and Pelicans where the winner gets to move to the East for 2019-20.

play two rounds before semis, get to add a player from the team they beat each round

putting forth minimal effort and a plethora of rest days wins this team 60 games.

and lol @ LeBron and the Lakers. that situation and the parties involved deserve zero sympathy.

but the deal fell apart because Cuz and Nurkic have the same agent.

I second LeBron punting on the legacy and waiting out Kawhi (not this offseason, but the next). if the Lakers win anything, it'll be year 2 after that dust settles.

fuck me though. they got 2 of my favorite players easily. Lance AND Rondo. two guys I always wanted on the Cavs. if that works I'm going to LOL. besides Lonzo is Rondo Jr.

Spurs upcoming season may suck for the fans as badly as the Cavs might

go CP3
go OKC
go Philly

lol @ Boogie to Golden Piss, I'm not going to sice that off the injury. best case scenario is that they got him for cheap.

glad those urineguzzlers aren't more than a "want to see them lose" concern now

offers, didn't know what to do, so he called his "ace in the hole"...Bob Myers. N.O. didn't even make him an offer. I hope they lose AD over this.

sure teams had their priorities and he's coming off of an achilles, but if you want him -- make an offer.

otherwise he gotta do what he gotta do, and this is a grreeat option for him to come back on the market in 2019

www.engadgethd.com - the other stuff i'm looking at

Heard from another national NBA guy that he did have an offer and once that offer looked possible GS swooped in. It also makes little sense that NO just said peace with two fingers. BUT something that the same guy told me--and this is mroe firm--is that Boogie is not ready to play yet and may not be until January or February. So maybe the Pels wanted to turn to Randle and just move forward, but it still seems unlikely that they didn't make some sort of offer.

Boogie...I honestly think unless they could resign him on the cheap it's best he walk. But I wonder what the issue was in the end.

I'd actually rather have Randle anyways. You already know what you get with Cousins. Randle can get better, is younger and more mobile.

whatever resources they had to keep Rondo.

OKC, LAL had some traction but since this afternoon I keep seeing #donedeal stuff on Evans to Indy, yet no one credible is confirming it. With Jefferson out they have the money (had a little left after Young opted in and they signed McDermott) so the figure makes sense. That'd be a nice fit for him, OKC, too. I don't see the Lakers coming up with the guap but maybe.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23979341/zach-lowe-demarcus-cousins-golden-state-warriors-nba

You'd like to think the Golden State Warriors had a grand plan -- that they watched their beautiful game stutter in the middle of the conference finals against the Houston Rockets' switching defense, and thought to themselves, "Let's wait out the market for the one potentially available dude who can just smash through those switches and cram in James Harden's face."

That is not what happened. DeMarcus Cousins, an All-NBA behemoth, fell into the laps of the two-time defending champions over a chaotic few hours during which the market collapsed on him -- so fast, several members of Golden State's brain trust (including some very close to the innermost sanctum) had no idea the deal was coming. The Timberwolves paid more for Anthony Tolliver, and hilariously hard-capped themselves in the process.

It is unclear precisely what happened between the New Orleans Pelicans and Cousins in those fraught final hours of a partnership that started with New Orleans forking over two lottery picks -- Buddy Hield and the pick that became Zach Collins -- in a February 2017 Hail Mary.

Julius Randle's sudden availability changed the Pelicans' equation. They snapped up Randle when the Lakers renounced his rights, nabbing a third big man to play alongside both Anthony Davis and Nikola Mirotic -- the starting duo that worked so well down the stretch of the regular season, and into the playoffs. Even so, the Pelicans still had something like $13.7 million to spend before bumping into the luxury tax. They could have outbid the Warriors paltry $5.3 million deal -- the mini-mid-level exception for tax teams.

They didn't. The Pelicans had a tentative meeting scheduled with Cousins in the coming days, per sources close to the situation. That will obviously not happen. Perhaps they had decided they simply did not want Cousins coming off an Achilles tendon tear, having seen what the stretchy and fast Mirotic-Davis combo could do without him. The fact pattern suggests a limited interest, at best.

By the time of their elimination -- at the hands of the Warriors, naturally -- the Pelicans had already explored the idea of offering Cousins a two-year deal at well below the maximum salary, sources told ESPN.com in May. They had to know that would go over poorly with Cousins, who believed his track record justified a max-level contract -- even coming off one of the most devastating injuries in sports.

Dramatic moves brought Cleveland a championship in 2016. Now they might bring on the pain.
Then they pounced on Randle. Given how many roster spots they may have left to fill, they couldn't realistically offer Cousins much more than the full midlevel exception for non-tax teams -- just short of $9 million per season.

Yes, the two could have worked together on a sign-and-trade that would have netted something tangible for a player the Pelicans sacrificed so much to get. Such a deal could have earned Cousins more money, over more seasons.

It's possible no such deal to Cousins' liking existed. As I wrote in May, there was not much of a market for him -- and almost none among teams with cap space once Dallas and DeAndre Jordan pulled the NBA version of college crushes who finally (and sloppily) make the leap when they run into each other at a bar in their mid-20s.

A number of teams had a No Cousins policy before he tore his Achilles. That number grew as teams feared committing to what might be a less explosive version of him. Remember: Any contract inked as part of a sign-and-trade must encompass at least three seasons. That might have been too long for teams who would have to send out some meaningful asset for him.

Only the first year's salary in such deals must be guaranteed, meaning teams could trick the system by making the final two nonguaranteed -- $0 if things go badly. That, of course, is unfriendly for Cousins. If he underperforms, the team walks away. Cousins might have been able to earn a little more scratch in 2018-19 under such a contract, but it's unclear if even that kind of deal was out there -- or if he would have cooperated with the Pelicans in arranging it. (Portland and New Orleans had very preliminary talks about a sign-and-trade, sources say, but Portland's salary target is murky and it may have pushed for at least one nonguaranteed year. As ESPN's Chris Haynes reported, the deal never got off the ground -- in part because Cousins and Jusuf Nurkic, Portland's incumbent free-agent center, share an agent.)

Play well leading into those nonguaranteed years, and the team has you for the next two seasons at a below-market rate. Cousins now gets to prove himself with Golden State, and slip back on the market just as more space opens up.

By the middle of Monday, Cousins' people were calling teams and pitching deals: one-year, $15 million in one place, per sources, other numbers in other places. Clearly, there was not much interest. It may be that the richest deal easily and quickly available to him was that full midlevel exception contract starting at around $8.6 million.

Any team offering that -- and I'm not sure as of this writing that one did -- might have sensed its leverage, and tried to coax Cousins into a two-year deal at that price. For many of them, that was the smart play. Cousins would have justifiably resisted. Others are hoarding cap space for the summer of 2019, and so would have restricted their offers to one season. A one-year deal didn't make much sense for almost any other team beyond Golden State. Due to his injury, you are getting only part of that season. You may not get another; there are strict salary limits in re-signing players who change teams on one-year deals.

(Cousins told Marc Spears of The Undefeated that he had no offers as of Monday morning, and instructed his agent to start calling teams -- including the Warriors.)

Even had the full midlevel been on the table, Cousins in signing with the Warriors cost himself at most $3.3 million this season -- and bought the right to try free agency again next summer in a better marketplace. If he wins a ring in the process, well, he never has to hear about that again. He was distraught last season upon missing his first chance at playoff action. Winning would ease some stress.

And so here we are: The Warriors will at some point start five All-Stars. This predictably set off much talk about how they have broken the NBA. Allow me to play turd in the punch bowl: I am not sure how much this really helps the Warriors in the short term, and it doesn't help them at all beyond next season.

If Cousins plays well, Golden State will have no mechanism to re-sign him coming off a one-year deal; they would be able to offer only 120 percent of his $5.3 million salary, and Cousins ain't boogeying to that tune if he plays well.

And who knows when he will even play, or in what condition. All the excitement surrounding Cousins' return, first in New Orleans and now in Golden State, rushes right past the sad reality that he tore an Achilles tendon. The sample size of players who have recovered to even 80 or 90 percent of their production level after that injury is small. The sample size of such big guys with some prior conditioning issues does not exist.

Optimists suggest he could return as early as December or even late November. (Cousins told Spears he expects to be ready for training camp.) The Warriors will afford him a longer timeline if need be. It would not be a shock if he doesn't appear in a real game until around Christmas, sources say.

The fit will not be seamless. Cousins has been a divisive, brooding presence in the locker room, and the Warriors endured more turmoil of their own last season than ever before. (By all accounts, Cousins was better in New Orleans, but apparently not beloved enough to draw an actual hard monetary offer that appealed to him.)

Cousins has played at a fast pace before, first under George Karl and then Alvin Gentry, but even then he was not exactly rushing back on defense. He has rarely sustained the pace Golden State's best lineups prefer.

At low points in both Sacramento and New Orleans, he sometimes loafed so badly that you would see nine players on the television screen for an alarming number of consecutive seconds. He loves to hold the ball, and post up for buckets -- things the Warriors do not do.

He might exacerbate Golden State's one unshakeable bad habit: maddening turnovers. In something of a point-center role last season, Cousins coughed up five turnovers per game -- the third-highest such figure ever for a rotation player. There are few things that bust a team's integrity more severely than a player who throws bad passes, and then mopes instead of getting back on defense.

His effort within half-court defense is inconsistent -- a trait the Warriors have generally not accepted of any core player. He doesn't have the speed or stamina to switch over and over.

Given good health, it is hard to imagine any five-man group with Cousins usurping the Death Lineup -- Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala, Draymond Green -- as the Warriors best overall, and crunch-time go-to. There is no shame in that. Cousins can't make the Warriors much better because it is mathematically impossible for a team this good to get much better.

But at this price? Replacing backup-caliber flotsam? Come on. And there are universes in which the fit is cleaner. For one, Cousins has finally arrived at a team that simply will not, and should not, take any of his crap. Even at his peak he is their third-best player, and if I'm building a team to win actual basketball games, I probably take both Green and Thompson over him depending somewhat on roster context. The Warriors don't need him, and if they don't need him, they do not need to suffer any unpleasantness. Proven champions can tell impolitic newcomers to kindly shut it.

He should help on the defensive glass, an on-again, off-again weakness that was on-again last season, when the Warriors ranked 25th in defensive rebounding rate. He can push the ball himself or, even better, outlet pass the Warriors into fast breaks -- all without lumbering over half court. He can lope into trail 3-pointers, or spot up when the Warriors invert the offense. Curry has never had a pick-and-roll big man partner (not counting Durant) who can punish switches on the block like this.

Passing out of the post and from the elbows is perhaps Cousins' most Warriors-friendly skill. Golden State actually posts up a lot; it averaged 16.7 post touches per game, third-most in the league, per Second Spectrum tracking data. It just uses the post as a vehicle to unlock passes instead of back-to-the-basket shots. Golden State topped all teams in the percentage of post-ups that led to shots for players one pass away, per Second Spectrum data. On an individual level, Warriors comprised six of the league's overall top-10 post players by this measure: Green (No. 1), Iguodala, David West, Zaza Pachulia, Jordan Bell and Kevon Looney.

Cousins is a good passer from all over the floor, and sometimes a brilliant one. He merits almost automatic double teams. If he tilts the balance of his game toward quick-hitting passes, he can play within Steve Kerr's system.

Sometimes, he will play outside of it. That's fine. That's the point of signing DeMarcus Cousins: to let him smush stuff underfoot. Imagine the luxury of hitting a lull against those switchy Rockets, with Durant fading away for midrange misses, and just turning to Cousins: Trample Eric Gordon and lay the ball up, please. Smart team defenses make that exercise harder than it sounds, but Cousins has seen every zone-ish anti-bullying scheme.

When he tries, Cousins can be a plus defender -- at least in spurts. He's unmovable on the block, and more of a deterrent at the rim than you'd think considering he doesn't jump very high. When he bothers to get in a stance and spread his arms, he gets his hands on a lot of balls. He ranked 10th overall in deflections in 2016-17 before falling to just outside the top 20 last season. He snares a lot of steals for a big man. The Warriors, after steals, transform into fire.

Given everything -- the injury, the timetable for return, Cousins's limitations -- I'm very skeptical this signing merits the hype, or the anguish. Cousins' reputation and statistics have always inflated his contribution to winning -- both on the floor, and behind closed doors.

But the guy is damned good. And for this price, all the Warriors are really paying him to do is bulldoze switching defenses at a few critical postseason moments -- if this team even experiences any of those.

drafting, free agents...them dudes on level 10.