2019/20 Players' Transactions: Breaking News , Trades, Free Agents, And Rumors

I'm not sure that's true (Ball vs Ingram) and Ball's size and versatility makes him an ideal PG in today's NBA. Ball is tall enough to guard 1-3 pretty effectively and has even switched on to PFs at times. With the lack of generally competent post players, he's a perfect NBA PG.

 

Agreed. Klay has had a consistent message from day one.

I think the 2019 plan is honestly more far fetched than 2018. Anyone really think Kawhi is leaving? Klay? Kyrie is a tenuous maybe, but I could see him signing an extension in Boston. Does Jimmy Butler leave a developing situation in Minnesota?

In reality you're looking at maybe Kemba Walker, Kevin Love, Marc Gasol, Khris Middleton, Harrison Barnes, and Goran Dragic. Not a terrible list, but... not necessarily inspiring either. I'd like Kemba and maybe Love depending on cost.

 

Except that as of right now, he can't shoot. I agree with everything you said, except shooting has become such a huge part of today's game, I'm not sure you can afford to have someone who can't hit from outside.

 

Eh he was shooting about 35.6% from outside from December and January before he went down with that injury.

Ball- 35%
George- 43%
LeBron- 36%
Davis- 30-33%

That's more than fine. If you find a way to keep Kuzma, that's more than enough shooting. I'm not saying I'm trying to trade Ingram, he's playing tremendously right now, I'm just saying it's way too early to start slowly burying Ball. The kid has been hurt so I understand fans forgetting what Lonzo was doing, but he was averaging 10/7/7/1.5 on the season as a 20 year old kid with steadily improving efficiency. Let's all take a breath on trying to declare one or another kid over him while he's not able to stick up for himself on the court.

 

You're right that it's too early to take a side between them, but if it's between those two in an Anthony Davis trade, there is no Lavar Ingram that I know of.

 

I mean... I don't know where you come up with this stuff. Seriously.

You realize that Ingram has played 55 games and has 193 assists when Lonzo has played in 36 and has 255 assists?
You realize Lonzo averages almost twice as many assists per game as Brandon with nearly the same turnovers per game?

Even in this fabulous tear that Ingram has been on, he's averaging 5.7 assists per game which would be more than a full assist lower than Lonzo as the PG. There are so many ways you could have tried to frame this argument and this is just hilariously the wrong choice.

This is your best argument, although it's an incomplete one: it's better to have two defensive, versatile wings than one defensive, versatile PG. I disagree. Ball has proven to be a great defender, passer, and rebounder for not only his position, but his age range especially. He has the height and athleticism to be able to switch almost every screen (can't guard bigger 4/5s) and the intelligence to take advantage of just about any situation on the floor. The kid is as transcendent as we could have reasonably hoped. He misses a few games and you seem to have forgotten how talented of a player Lonzo is.

That's probably a mistake.

The point is for you to say so cavalier that Ingram will be better than Lonzo is an assumption and one that I don't think can or should be made right now. Lonzo in his limited time has shown a prowess for basketball that none of our other kids have. He lacks consistent aggression, but the talent is undeniable. Ingram has a good feel and Kuzma has a great feel for scoring, but neither of them see the game the way Lonzo does. If we're trading away kids, Lonzo should be the last one moved followed swiftly by Ingram, then Kuzma, then Hart.

 

I'm not going to trade Lonzo just because his dad is a dingleberry. Lonzo is too talented for that. Would I trade him for AD? I probably would, but I wouldn't offer any of the other major pieces (Ingram, Kuzma, Hart). They can have Bryant, Zubac, and some picks. And Deng to match salaries.

 

I wouldn't trade him based on his Dad for the heck of it, but if the Pelicans give me a choice of who to trade between Ingram and Ball, Lavar definitely factors into the equation cause I think it's pretty close.

Granted, that scenario probably never happens since with Holiday on their cap at that unmovable salary, they would take Ingram.

And I'd offer both of them for Davis. They can have Ingram, Ball, a resigned Randle and our 2020 first. We use the Cavs pick to move Deng. Sign PG13. Sign Kemba Walker in 2019.

Walker/Hart/PG/Kuzma/Davis with a nice 4-5 year window.

 

I can't recall exactly what the deal is, but there's some sort of complication with sign and trades that I think would make this really difficult to pull off (sending Randle as part of the package).

Lavar doesn't really factor to me at all. He's nothing but a nuisance and as long as Lonzo is comfortable and, more importantly, performing, I honestly couldn't care less what that bag of hot air is spewing. But to be fair, I'm also immune to the charms of the Khardasians and all the other stupid "reality" shows today, so maybe I'm just not giving it enough due.

It's an interesting question: if the Pelicans asked for two of Ball, Ingram, and Kuzma to get AD (plus a pick or two), which would I prefer to keep?

Assuming we're signing at least George, I want Lonzo on the team. He's the perfect teammate on the floor and would be an excellent buffer between ball-dominant stars. I think we're underestimating what his game means to a FA. Imagine a guy that elevates you constantly even though he doesn't need the ball all the time. One of the most remarkable things about Lonzo is his ability to rack up assists with a dirt low usage%. There's just not many people (any?) in the league right now that can do that. Guys like George and LeBron who want the ball a little less, but still want control? That's perfect for them. And a guy like Davis... I mean look what he was doing with Rondo.

 

Holiday and Walker are somewhat comparable, but PG is a better player than Boogie and makes for a more well rounded team than the Pelicans have. Kuzma and Hart are better than anyone on the Pelicans roster other than Holiday, AD and Cousins.