2022-23 Team Developments: News / Trades / Free Agents / Rumors

he's going to be 34 this year. his athleticism is not the same as it was even a couple years ago as we saw this past season

combine that, with his non-existent bball IQ, and you have the westbrick we saw last season

 

I saw very little chance of him coming here for the MLE (maybe 5%). He wouldn’t want to give up a ton of money without a way to recoup it later - and coming here that wasn’t assured at all.

The nets wouldn’t want to give him up when they’re so close to contending for nothing, but they don’t want to resign him. So this was the likely scenario that he opts in.

Now we could pursue a three team trade and I expect to hear quite a bit of rumours to that over the next few days. In fact I think this raises the possibility we trade for him because we won’t be hard capped (but only to 10%).

 

I’m so happy the Kyrie saga is over. The idea of acquiring a near 50-40-90 player who fits seamlessly next to Lebron and AD for either just Westbrook or even the TPMLE? Glad that didn’t happen.

So excited to move on with … *checks notes* keeping Russ and filling out the roster with veteran’s minimum signings.

 

He led Washington to the playoffs 12 months ago, everyone talking about how his athleticism just vanished is regurgitating nonsense. As slick would say “that’s cap” (thanks for the vocabulary).

His athleticism is still there, it’s shown in his frequency of drives to the rim and shots at the rim. You just need to give him the keys and he’ll get you to 35 wins on the back of 20/10/10 and getting a ton out of some random backup Center and 3& not much D players. I don’t think that’s what we need but it’s still unique.

 

The Shams tweet specifically says he's foregoing opt in and trade opportunities. I'm not sure what motivation Kyrie/the Nets would have to lie about that.

 

Is it over? It’s pretty clear to me that the Nets don’t care much for Kyrie and vice versa. A three team trade is still on the cards, no?

 

The Russ debate can go on forever. He was better in Washington and in Houston. Perhaps he played on teams with more roster stability? I'm still puzzled as to how Washington brought in Kcp, Kuz, Trez, Dinwiddie and lottery picks, and still ended up worse this season. Hell when you think about it..OKC, Houston and Washington all regressed after Russ left.

 

Move on to Terry Rozier. People talking about how Kyrie is the perfect point guard to put next to Lebron, since he has the ability to play off the ball and hit threes. Well, that describes Rozier, right? It even describes Nunn for that matter. I would try the following trade:

Lakers get: Rozier and Hayward

Hornets get: Westbrook, Nunn, Christie, 2027 Lakers 1st and 2029 Lakers 1st

 

I like Rozier..hell no to Hayward in any fashion. Damn sure not giving up draft picks in a trade involving him. Taking him with a 1st round pick is more palatable. Even then, I'd be looking to move him and said pick immediately.

 

his athleticism is not still there compared to a few years ago. that was evident from watching him this past season. sure, he can still blow by guys on occasion but what's the point of that if you miss the layup (which he did countless times.) not to mention he can't defend for sh**

how exactly do you "give him the keys" when you also have two other players who need the ball in their hands to be successful? that's the problem with westbrick, he was always going to be a terrible fit alongside lebron and AD no matter if he's still athletic or not

 

Kyrie is a unpredictable headcase who has played less than AD over the last few seasons. He appeared to be trying to pull off a sign and trade. So yes. I’m definitely glad we’re not going to be tied to him in some long term deal that would’ve hard capped us.

I much prefer a deal that uses Russ to give us some depth and solid role players.

 

Russ and a couple of seconds to the Hornets.

keep our picks/ THT for another deal.

 

I get it man, but you act like Rozier has no value. We have to give up something to get something. Not to mention, we get to dump Westbrook in the deal as well. Sure, that trade idea might be a bit generous on our part. Lets just say I would give up to that much. If we could do the deal for less, then great.

 

I don’t mean this in an offensive way, but this is why players like you (and like me) are not part of front offices.

There is a really strong possibility that a healthy Nunn is close to the impact of Rozier. There is an equally strong chance that Christie has a similar impact over a full season to what Hayward can do if he only plays 30 games.

On top of that, you’re giving up two firsts, that fall in the timeline when Lebron will be gone and AD could be too (super valuable). And to top it off you’re giving away an expiring 47m dollar contract.

I kid you not, this kind of package + THT is what could bring us back a disgruntled star, like Lillard. It’s a shame Giannis, Luka or Jokic will never ask out, but it would be close in getting all three if we weren’t the lakers and the league didn’t want us to succeed.

 

You based that "fit" off of 21 games, spread out during an 82 game season? That's impossible to call a fact.

He missed a lot of layups, especially early, no doubt. I don't think athleticism had anything to do with it though, most of them were point blank deals. I do believe this jammed hand thing from Washington might have been the culprit with that. Word has it that he was getting his eyes checked last season too. I think he had some physical issues going on. He got by most folks pretty much at will last season IMO. Failing to finish was the surprise. Melo is an example of lost athleticism..he can't finish period on contested shots in the paint anymore.

 

I wasn’t suggesting we give him the keys and I didn’t say that. I said OKC wouldn’t want him for that reason, he would make them too competitive.

 

Yeah. I’m okay with not dealing with this for the next 3 to 4 years. Lol

 

I hear you. I'm actually cool with Nunn or Reeves being our starting 1 next year. I'm just saying, if we could dump WB and get a less expensive "Kyrie light" type without the drama to replace him, it would be a good thing. I mean, I like Nunn, Christie, the picks, etc. but you cant deny that their are still question marks on all of those assets, while Rozier is a durable, sure thing 18+ ppg off ball shooting point guard. I hate to send out Nunn, but you would think Charlotte could use a player similar to Rozier next to Ball in the back court, at least for this season anyway.