Leonard and George to Clippers

lovegtm

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Well the league has to move the draft to LA as soon as possible, since the two teams there have like 3 draft picks between them in the next 20 years.

Gotta go for it, if you're the LAC, without question. And good chance the swaps are useless. But sweet mother of God. When that snowball inevitably starts rolling downhill, ain't nothing gonna stop it.

I was hoping that KL would stay in Toronto, since it's a nice story. Team builds around him, some good young guys, etc. But that kick in the nuts for the LAL is lovely, with PG of all people joining KL in Clipperland and Mr. Laker masterminding it... Just fucking marvelous.
Yeah, it doesn’t even have to be injuries: PG or KL could just decided in 3 years that they won a few titles, the LA thing has run its course, and decide to go somewhere else. This is pretty very roughly what happened at the end of the Heat’s run.

In the meantime, I need an acronym for “I still think the Clippers should have made the trade”, kind of like RIGBY in the Silicon Valley show.
 

PedroKsBambino

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They still have Lou Williams too, right? That's a pretty solid roster, but is Zubac the only guy over 6'9"?
Harrell as well (I guess he’s not bigger than 6-9, but a very good nba big) So they are ok if you imagine one vet big guy addition I’d say
 

Jimbodandy

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Yeah, it doesn’t even have to be injuries: PG or KL could just decided in 3 years that they won a few titles, the LA thing has run its course, and decide to go somewhere else. This is pretty very roughly what happened at the end of the Heat’s run.

In the meantime, I need an acronym for “I still think the Clippers should have made the trade”, kind of like RIGBY in the Silicon Valley show.
Nuance is a lost art in 2019, but I'm not ready to give up.

Yes, Clips did well here. The next few years will be awesome for them, in all likelihood. Yet, OKC scored huge also. That's a fantastic pick bonanza and SGA is a nice prospect. And the Clips will be trash for a few years down the road with no recourse. But as we have seen with Brooklyn, it's not a death sentence.

Most importantly, the Lakers fans, Klutch, and the madly dysfunctional ownership and front office there got their asses fried. Waking up to this was pretty damn sweet.
 

moondog80

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Hottest of hot takes: Lakers, with 20 games off each from Davis and LeBron, finish with fewer wins than the Thunder, Raptors, and Pelicans.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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Agree with others about Presti. Gun to his head and he was cool and masterful. That's as good a haul as could be expected. I wonder what else was in that Russ-PG for Siakam deal...
Cool and masterful? Didn't Presti get every pick he could? It was probably a very short negotiation - "You want PG? Give me everything or otherwise no."

The only thing they could have haggled about is the years of the pick swaps.
 

Smokey Joe

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One can only wonder if Magic did this to undermine Pelinka. I mean everyone else in the world knows that KL likes to keepeverything on the QT and that he needs to be able to trust his team's organization to do the same.
I contemplated about this as well, but when you look at Magic’s history, “can’t keep mouth shut” is about a thousand times more likely then “vindictive calculating cleverness”.
 

DannyDarwinism

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If Presti can bait a desperate GM into giving up real assets for Westbrook, the cupboard will fill up again quickly for OKC.

Right after the AD trade, the talk of adding a 3rd star centered around Kemba and Kawhi. Having Kemba quickly decide on the Celtics, and Kawhi turn over every stone to get to LAC despite the clear path to the Lakers is about as satisfying an outcome as possible so far.
 

lovegtm

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Cool and masterful? Didn't Presti get every pick he could? It was probably a very short negotiation - "You want PG? Give me everything or otherwise no."

The only thing they could have haggled about is the years of the pick swaps.
Yeah, it’s a funny downside of being an LA team. You are pretty sure the guy you get will re-sign, so the counterparty knows almost exactly where your walkaway point is. You get your guy, but because your cards are face up, your final deal is always right up against your BATNA.

PG staying in OKC really changed the pricing on these types of deals.
 

mcpickl

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Who’s left that has need and cap space?
I'd be surprised if Morris doesn't end up with the Lakers

What a day this is.
Kawhi stones the Lakers and brings PG with him.
The Lakers instead of getting Kawhi end up using their space on Danny Green, KCP, Quinn Cook and probably Marcus Morris
And OKC gets a haul for PG.
Having control of the Clippers picks for 5 straight years going out 7 years, plus two Heat 1sts, SGA and Gallo? That's a whopping return. I'd bet on at least a couple lottery picks in there.

Wonder if the Clippers were holding the line on the picks, the earthquake hit, and they just said screw it we could die tonight! All the first rounders and swaps you want!
 

TripleOT

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I just looked at the Clips' draft history since picking Blake Griffin at 1 in 2009. Besides SGA in the 2018 draft, there wasn't a lot there that helped this team. After having only two winning seasons in LA in their entire history there while having all kinds of high draft picks, they just reeled off seven winning seasons.

With their management structure/rich owner/new building, they should be able to stock a roster with minimum salary ring chasing vets for the next half decade. The Clippers have been my second team for a long time (franchise swap with the Celtics, URI connection with Lamar Odom, Cuttino Mobley, Tom Garrick), so I'm looking forward to the next four years.
 

Royal Reader

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If Presti can bait a desperate GM into giving up real assets for Westbrook, the cupboard will fill up again quickly for OKC.

Right after the AD trade, the talk of adding a 3rd star centered around Kemba and Kawhi. Having Kemba quickly decide on the Celtics, and Kawhi turn over every stone to get to LAC despite the clear path to the Lakers is about as satisfying an outcome as possible so far.
Is Westbrook on his contract a positive asset? He'd improve the Suns or Magic, but not enough to justify moving assets. Maybe the Wolves would give up picks to swap RWB for Wiggins?
 

OurF'ingCity

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This may have already been said in this thread, but can we just take a moment to LOL at all the NBA “experts” and players with supposed connections who said it was virtually certain that he was going either to the Lakers or back to Toronto?

In retrospect, probably not a huge surprise that Kawhi wanted to keep negotiations private and he ultimately went to the team from which I don’t think we heard any news or leaks.
 

Captaincoop

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Cool and masterful? Didn't Presti get every pick he could? It was probably a very short negotiation - "You want PG? Give me everything or otherwise no."

The only thing they could have haggled about is the years of the pick swaps.
All the picks they just got are about as close to worthless as can be. Really OKC just turned Paul George into Gallinari and SGA, which no GM would want to do, except under duress.

The winner in this trade is New Orleans, because now there's a tiny chance the Laker team falls apart at the end of this year when a frustrated AD leaves in free agency.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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All the picks they just got are about as close to worthless as can be. Really OKC just turned Paul George into Gallinari and SGA, which no GM would want to do, except under duress.

The winner in this trade is New Orleans, because now there's a tiny chance the Laker team falls apart at the end of this year when a frustrated AD leaves in free agency.
I don't know about worthless but look at what BRK did without any draft picks. Turns out having cap space is a great way to build assets in today's NBA.
 

ElUno20

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The whining from my laker friends and family this morning is amazing.

Guess you assholes will just have to settle for lebron james and Anthony Davis. Gtfoh
 

lovegtm

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Wonder if the Clippers were holding the line on the picks, the earthquake hit, and they just said screw it we could die tonight! All the first rounders and swaps you want!
Hahaha, yes, this. Do not want to turn this political, but was thinking the same thing the other day...at some point a GM is gonna be like: “2026? Hell, we might not even have a country then, let alone an NBA! Picks for all!”
 

Captaincoop

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NBA fans on the East Coast are going to have to stay up until 1am every night to see any of the league's marquee players now.

That's not great from a league perspective.
 

lovegtm

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NBA fans on the East Coast are going to have to stay up until 1am every night to see any of the league's marquee players now.

That's not great from a league perspective.
Yeah, it sucks that kids in the East won’t get to watch the MVP.
 

benhogan

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Congrats dude. It’s one thing for your squad to land two franchise players in the same day, but for longtime Clips fans, punking Big Brother in the process has to feel nice.

PatBev, Harkless, PG and Kawhi is a sick defensive lineup. Sub in Shamet (under the radar Jerry “King of the” West move) and Harrell and they can light it up.

So glad I get to keep rooting for Kawhi.
Great pick up. Jerry West genius is sublime. All hail Jerry

He completely fooled 90% of NBA fans at the trade deadline last year.

The George/Kawhi deal doesn't get done without that end of the season Tobias Harris heist with Philly. An absolute Jerry West special, he won that deal 7 different ways. Jerry picks up
(1&2) two first rounders that got sent to OKC
(3) a cheap, productive Landry Shamet
(4) unloads an expensive, expiring, bad defensive player in Tobias Harris - Philly compounded that terrible trade by MAXing him to 5yrs - that contract will suck for years (heck it sucks now)
(5)Muscala added and then dealt for a cheap/controlled Zubac (Lakers burnt again)
(6&7) 2 Detroit 2nd rounders- 2021 & 23 - which will give the Clippers deep bench depth in future years

Lakers (w/ an assist by Philly) follies are taking the sting away from losing Al Horford. It also has me re-considering my thoughts that Danny mishandled Al's contract demands.
 

lovegtm

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Lakers (w/ an assist by Philly) follies are taking the sting away from losing Al Horford. It also has me re-considering my thoughts that Danny mishandled Al's contract demands.
My rule of thumb is to always give Ainge & co. the benefit of the doubt when it comes to evaluating current NBA players.
 

wibi

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Small side win for a former Gonzaga player but Zach Norvell's two way contract with the Lakers is suddenly looking very good for him and getting playing time at the NBA level
 

snowmanny

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The whining from my laker friends and family this morning is amazing.

Guess you assholes will just have to settle for lebron james and Anthony Davis. Gtfoh
Now is the time for you to be the bigger person and comfort them by reminding them that there is no shame in being a 5 seed.
 

lovegtm

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KD is out for the year. The other guys you named are tier 2 superstars as far as most fans are concerned.
Giannis won the MVP and is hugely well-known and popular. Kyrie sells more shoes than almost anyone, particularly to the younger demographic. Embiid is maybe the biggest personality in the league and is also really fucking good. Go do hot takes somewhere else.
 

benhogan

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Reminder: Russ (age 30) is still on the books for 4/171 and is a UFA in 2023 w/a player option in 2022.
That's why the NBA keeps James Dolan's checkbook around.

New York City and the Knicks are so built for fashionista Russell Westbrook. He can put up his hollow stats and holler at the younger players to a 30 win season AND spend his off time in the garment district working in the shmata trade.

Can't help myself, going for the trifecta here with Lakerfreude, Philly Heists, and Knick buffoonery...:banana:
 
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Captaincoop

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Giannis is the last star standing in the East.

Lebron, Curry, Leonard, Davis, Lillard, Harden....basically any other star a fan might tune in to watch, are in the West, mostly in the Pacific time zone.

"Hot Take" is the absolute lamest message board cliche reply ever. Maybe bring some thought to your post.
 

RG33

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The whining from my laker friends and family this morning is amazing.

Guess you assholes will just have to settle for lebron james and Anthony Davis. Gtfoh
My most vocal Laker fan friend has so far been silent this morning. My “wow, Jerry West sticking it to the Lakers was unexpected.” And “Wonder if AD asks to be traded to the Celtics now. . . . . . “ texts have not gotten responses.
 

lovegtm

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Giannis is the last star standing in the East.

Lebron, Curry, Leonard, Davis, Lillard, Harden....basically any other star a fan might tune in to watch, are in the West, mostly in the Pacific time zone.

"Hot Take" is the absolute lamest message board cliche reply ever. Maybe bring some thought to your post.
Ah, so now Giannis is a star? We’re getting somewhere!

It’s also really funny that Lillard is on a list that doesn’t include Kyrie. The latter is way more of a draw to casual fans.

And yes, when your initial point is trivially refuted in seconds, that’s a hot take.
 

benhogan

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Giannis is the last star standing in the East.

Lebron, Curry, Leonard, Davis, Lillard, Harden....basically any other star a fan might tune in to watch, are in the West, mostly in the Pacific time zone.

"Hot Take" is the absolute lamest message board cliche reply ever. Maybe bring some thought to your post.
ok fellas this is a day of celebration for those that have had enough of the Lakers, Lebron, Klutch, RWB, Toronto Championships, GSW domination, Harden's play (Kawhi/George will stop him cold) and AD spurning the Celtics.
 
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lars10

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Holy balls what a curveball that was; Leonard signing with the Clippers isn't that surprising, but just tossing in George out of the blue is unreal. Feel bad for Westbrook though; in a constantly rearranging league where stars hop from team to team, he stays loyal only to see other stars come and go.

Has anyone in anything ever just basically kicked ass for 50+ years the way Jerry West has in basketball?
I wonder how much of this is on Westbrook though? Guy plays like he’s the only star on his team and consistently doesn’t share the ball even though he’s the PG and not an amazing outside shooter.. despite having Durant, Harden and George as teammates. At some point you may want to be more pass first and less of a volume shooter/scorer.
 

the moops

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[/QUOTE]
I wonder how much of this is on Westbrook though? Guy plays like he’s the only star on his team and consistently doesn’t share the ball even though he’s the PG and not an amazing outside shooter.. despite having Durant, Harden and George as teammates. At some point you may want to be more pass first and less of a volume shooter/scorer.
Paul George re-signed there knowing full well what type of player Wetbrook is/was though
 

johnmd20

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Giannis won the MVP and is hugely well-known and popular. Kyrie sells more shoes than almost anyone, particularly to the younger demographic. Embiid is maybe the biggest personality in the league and is also really fucking good. Go do hot takes somewhere else.
Calling Gianni a tier 2 player immediately invalidates anything Coop says now and forever.
 

Jimbodandy

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I don't know who's hot takes are being quibbled here, but don't forget that there is an ignore option.

Question for the group: doesn't this move for OKC signal a selloff? If so, the ripples from this trade could be felt throughout thr year, no?