...maybe all that time spent gave Johnson an insight on what Russell is all about and what degree of competitor he really is? I do agree with you that letting him go appears premature but as others have surmised it could be part of a bigger picture.
This makes me feel so much better. I really want to believe Rob and Magic have a good plan, and this was just the first step. I'm still not thrilled the possible chasing Lebron aspect, but I'm hoping we end with some other good players to put next to PG and Ball and Ingram really blossom.
I took this as Portland is brewing on something. Could be a dark horse in the PG trade with the 3 1st round pick they have.
Yeah. And Portland is the type of team I could see PG-13 sticking around on. Granted, they have no way of getting better. Damn. I'm looking on that roster...they may have the worst payroll in the league. They have Crabbe, Evan Turner, Meyers Leonard and Maurice Harkless signed for the next three seasons at over 50 million dollars per year. I guess we shouldn't complain too much about Deng.
Yup, they were one of the big spenders last year. Had a bunch of cap space due to the TV deal boom and just gave out big contracts to everyone.
Don't think PG13 is getting traded to the Lakers today and if doesn't happen today it probably won't happen. Lakers aren't giving up Ingram or Ball nor should they. Those two are untouchable and they should be. They don't wanna take their choice of Randle or Clarkson and those two late first round picks well they can lose George for nothing or get a lesser deal because nobody is giving anything substantial for a one year rental. Paul George has made it clear he intends to sign with the Lakers next summer. The Lakers can sit and wait on him. Let him join a young core of Ingram, Ball, Zubac, Randle, and Clarkson.
i agree that giving up clarkson AND randle is too much. ingram and zubac are untouchable i can live with the suspense of seeing whether or not PG sticks to his word and actually signs with us next year but it'll make the fact that d-lo was traded for nothing sting even more than it does
Indy playin' themselves if they don't make a move today. Instead of Clarkson and two first round picks, they'll end up with a journeyman and 1 first round pick.
The only person I remember myself lobbying for was Marvin Williams at a reasonable price. You know who I wasn't lobbying for, nor was anyone on this board even aware we were considering? Timofey F---ing Mozgov.
i think at this point indy is just going to hope someone overpays for him at the deadline not sure how they'll deal with a disgruntled star for potentially an entire season though. this could get good
This is a massive blow and sort of expected. I couldn't understand exactly what sort of return Love would get you? He's now proven he's at best a third option on a great team, he's getting over 70 million the next three seasons, and has a checkered injury past. What is the appeal? The Cavs were really the only team I could see sacrificing a lot for a rental. They needed to convince LeBron to stay, now they can't. Hell they can't even convince Chauncey Billups to sign on with the fear of LeBron bolting in a year (which seems almost a lock at this point). Around the league, who is willing to part with significant assets for a rental? Houston maybe? What assets do they have that would help a rebuild? They don't have their first this year. They have a couple extra second rounders and a few uninspiring young guys. I don't see them beating any of our offers. The Nuggets were known to have big offers for George last summer and they've got a number of decent prospects. Would they be willing to part with Harris and their lottery pick this year to gamble on Paul George staying? I sort of doubt it. If George is telling the Cavs not to trade for him, then what is he telling a small market team like Denver? My offer is what it was a couple days ago and it expires an hour before the draft: Clarkson/#27/#28 and if you go into the draft. I'll throw in Tarik Black if you ask real nicely.
I'd love to have Harkless or Crabbe or maybe even Turner over Deng. At least those three have upside.
I don't think they can wait until the deadline. If people are worried about him being a rental with a whole season ahead of them to try to convince him to stay, good luck on grabbing George at the deadline and having 3 months to convince him.
