***2019 NBA OFF-SEASON***

Originally posted by DaBum:
Wonder what changed for PG. He now really wanted LA? He didn't even meet with those teams last year. It certainly seems as if he's seen the light about Russ. PG has a near MVP season, playing better than ever before, and they had no real chance of doing anything because Russ doesn't make teammates better. He's a glorified Marbury.

Yup, having a full season there opened his eyes I think. RW is too much of a blackhole to ever help a championship team.

The way it seems, Lakers was plan B for Kawhi all along. If Clipps were able to get PG, then Kawhi signs with them. Even Woj reported that Kawhi pitched this idea to PG.

What's being dismissed in all this is the fact that Kawhi tried to recruit KD and failed. Had to settle for PG, who has a history of disappearing in the playoffs, and forced the clippers to mortgage and unprecedented amount of picks and their entire future to get him.

Originally posted by TheGore49er:

Originally posted by JustinMT:

Originally posted by TheGore49er:

Originally posted by JustinMT:
I don't think its the media's fault in this. The one camp that was actively making noise about Kawli was the Lakers. The Raptors and Clippers were pretty quiet in comparison. I don't know who's leaking stuff in the Lakers' front office but they need to learn how to STFU until the deals are done.

I can't buy that all. As much as i want to rip Magic, anything short of them giving out Kawhi social security number on twitter, wouldnt have mattered.

Its obvious PG13 had a lot to do with it. Reports comimg out now that they both talked in the summer and wanted to play together, and PG still wanted back to LA. Obviously that couldn't happen on the Lakers. Looks Kawhi said that if they can pull off getting PG, then he will sign with them. This is pretty clear. There was definetally a lot of player tampering (not that its not allowed) and even FO tampering, theres a reason OKC FO isnt happy right now.

Plus, this is Kawhi...Hes just different. Anybody that good who considers the Clippers as a place to go, is just wired differently. No FA willingly goes to the clippers lol.

You're talking like they're still run by Donald Sterling. They're not and Balmer has proven that he wants to win and he's willing to pay to do it. Add Jerry West and Doc (who I personally think is overrated) to it and its a far more appealing franchise than what the Lakers are now. That team has been losing the respect of players around the league since Jerry died. His kids are completely incompetent in comparison.

My point was this had nothing to do with Magic or whoever else leaked something. Im sure them having a better FO played a part in that as well, but him wanting to play with PG13, now we know that they are actually friends and workout together (nobody knew that before) was probably the biggest reason. A trade a for a all nba player just doesnt go down that quickly unless this was already in the plans.

They had pretty much all week to work this out. Its why his deal didn't get done earlier this week.

Kawhi waited till all the pieces were in place before his move. If he wins a title with the Clips he will have won with 3 different teams. The players are controlling the game and there's nothing the owners can do about it. The owners had their run, now it's the players calling the shots.

Originally posted by JustinMT:

They had pretty much all week to work this out. Its why his deal didn't get done earlier this week.

Good info.

But that still proves my original point then, it wasn't the leak from Magic. Seems like Kawhi really wanted to play with George. That was the biggest factor. Im sure their better FO played a part too, but it wasn't the most important thing for him.

Originally posted by StOnEy333:

What's being dismissed in all this is the fact that Kawhi tried to recruit KD and failed. Had to settle for PG, who has a history of disappearing in the playoffs, and forced the clippers to mortgage and unprecedented amount of picks and their entire future to get him.

I mean those picks aren't gonna much too much if they're crushing it....PG was a MVP candidate this yr.

I mean I'm sure Laker fans would have hated to do all this lol.

Regardless both teams are better than last yr.

I don't get the hype for what OKC got. Looks absolutely terrible.

1) The reason other stars have been traded is because the team was about to lose contractual control. OKC had two more years at minimum and a potentially a third given his $38M opt-in. He wasn't going to be a malcontent after one year.

2) Non-top 10 NBA draft picks have absolutely dreadful hit rates. For every Booker, Giannis, etc example people drop there are 30+ dudes who never got to their 2nd contract.

3) These picks -- even after the Kawhi era with LAC -- are going to be in the 20-30 range. Awful. The Clippers are in a destination city that (obviously) draws stars, AND they have the world's 14th richest man as the owner. They've averaged 40+ wins since Balmer took over. They will never be awful.

4) Even if you play the "b...bu...but those picks will be trade chips!" card -- again, everybody knows they will be very low 1sts. You're not getting stars with that. You're not even getting the Siakam's of the world for that.

5) No stars want to be in OKC long term. If they are forced to play there via trade -- they will leave.

Yes, OKC has more at bats in the draft. They are low quality at bats.

Maybe OKC goes out and gets Bradley Beal. But what would that do at this point? The West is loaded and that roster would still be looking at a 6th seed at best. I don't get the Sam Presti hype at all. Dude has run off so many studs and has nothing to show for it. Nothing.

Smart move by Ujiri if its true that Kawhi wouldn't give a commitment even with this trade.

[Wojnarowski] Presti pursued a package of Russell Westbrook with George to the Raptors -- with the NBA's Most Improved Player, forward Pascal Siakam as the centerpiece of a deal -- and Ujiri balked, league sources said.

Toronto gonna be in good position to chase some big FAs in a couple years including Giannis.

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:
Smart move by Ujiri if its true that Kawhi wouldn't give a commitment even with this trade.

[Wojnarowski] Presti pursued a package of Russell Westbrook with George to the Raptors -- with the NBA's Most Improved Player, forward Pascal Siakam as the centerpiece of a deal -- and Ujiri balked, league sources said.

Notable what another GM thinks of Westbrook (and his contract) as well.

Originally posted by okdkid:

Notable what another GM thinks of Westbrook (and his contract) as well.

Without a guarantee of Leonard staying, I doubt Ujiri loved the thought of blowing up his roster only to become Thunder East. Now he has some big contracts coming off the books in the next two years and some real flexibility.

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Smart move by Ujiri if its true that Kawhi wouldn't give a commitment even with this trade.

[Wojnarowski] Presti pursued a package of Russell Westbrook with George to the Raptors -- with the NBA's Most Improved Player, forward Pascal Siakam as the centerpiece of a deal -- and Ujiri balked, league sources said.

Toronto gonna be in good position to chase some big FAs in a couple years including Giannis.

Wait, Raports couldve had PG and Westbrook, for Siakim and picks, and they said no? Am i reading that right? If thats true, they need to fire him lmao.

Originally posted by Aj_hwd954:

Thank god Kawhi didn't go the Lakers. Playing next to LeBron would've ruined any legacy he had, why would any star want to play for him anymore knowing they'll never get any credit for winning but all of the blame if they lose? LeBron may be one of the all time greats, but the NBA will be much better off when he retires

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by okdkid:

Notable what another GM thinks of Westbrook (and his contract) as well.

Without a guarantee of Leonard staying, I doubt Ujiri loved the thought of blowing up his roster only to become Thunder East. Now he has some big contracts coming off the books in the next two years and some real flexibility.

Depends who they are keeping. If Lowry and Gasol is also part of the deal, then no. But if was just Siakim, picks, and other players not named Gasol and Lowry, then that was dumb to turn it down.