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

I mean if you bench him, what's the risk? He pouts, becomes a team cancer, etc?

His trade value, if he as any, is going down the drain. I wasn't a supporter of sending him home, and I'm still not all the way there, yet.

But man, would he make it hard for me if I was Rob.

 

The Lakers took a gamble on Russ somewhat finding some success under Ham which would've dropped our desperation, unfortunatelly like many thought it did not happen and we are in an even worse position. I agree that possibly stringing together wins while is home is the only possible way to gain some leverage back, but that is unlikely in itself.

The roster construction seems to be one that expected Russ to not be on the team, its just not good. You can send him home but the lack of wings is still going to really hurt us.

I get not wanting to give up too much unless it for sure makes us a title contender, but I can't see us going along the same track of pretty much waving the while flag on being even competitive this season.

 

At the very least he shouldn’t be starting or closing games.

 

Starting doesn't bother me, for now. It's not been a problem, we have had good starts

It's more the 3rd quarter and specially closing. If he's playing clutch time next game I join the haters club

 

Okay I’m with you on that. Especially with Schröder still out, park Russ on the bench and use him as a sixth man with an incredibly short lease. If he’s playing okay like in the first game, then let him get some run situationally. If he’s struggling or has a bad matchup, keep him off the court.

That might mean 25 minutes one game followed by 5 minutes the next game. It should be incredibly rare for him to earn his way into the closing rotation, certainly not something he should be entitled to by default.

If you’re able to squeeze some positive production from him that way, it’s a success. If he continues to be incredibly ineffective with that lack of rhythm and/or it becomes too big a distraction for the team to have to walk on eggshells around him and coddle his bruised ego, THEN send him home.

 

There was a line up we ran - I believe it was Walker, Bev, Brown, LeBron and AD- in the third that I think should probably start games.

I’d pick two out of Austin, Lonnie, and Pat Bev and then run them with Brown, LeBron, and AD.

Russ’ minutes would be strictly based on how well he was playing. Definitely not out there to close games.

 

If only they had someone who I don't know... went for a 2 for 1 with the lead in the final 30 seconds of a game. That's the kind of loser they need to turn this thing around in SA.

 

spurs and jazz need to address their s***ty tank jobs ASAP

pelinka will be waiting for your call

 

Traumatize Yourself to Wembanyamatize Yourself

Courtesy Reddit.

 

Lakers have been in the games. I think everyone is panicking a bit too fast. Last year these would have been 30pt blowouts.

 

Moral victories are for teams like the Flippers.

 

I like the Westbrook/Nunn/Wenyan/2025 2nd/2027 2nd for Rozier/Hayward/Washington option a lot. We get three shooter just like that and we are back in business. Also don't have to give up any firsts.

 

this is predicated on the idea that charlotte really wants to get off hayward and rozier--but how important is that to them? rozier plays up to his contract, imo, and he's under it for three more years, which is good for a team like them, who attracts nobody in FA. and hayward becomes a big expiring next year and is playing well so far this year. also a good veteran in the locker room on a team full of young guys (some of whom are knuckleheads). washington's now their second-best young player.

anyway, i think that deal is the least likely of all the potential charlotte deals.

my guess on most likely would be hayward/oubre/plumlee. i don't know if they have firm plans to re-sign the latter two, and hayward, despite playing well when available, is...infrequently available.

 

Yes. I think there's a misconception on how teams move to tank around here. Each player is an asset for that team and the only thing we offer is a big expiring which only serves teams that either have a FA in sight this offseason (it's a poor FA pool this year), want to save some money from (bad) long term contracts or wants to move below the cap or luxury.

Teams still "need" to use 90% of the cap so just getting an expiring for no reason is not good for them in most scenarios. And usually these teams also want some young pieces, which we don't have so many too

In Hornets case I don't see what they win with that trade that would make them do the trade with FRPs. The one you suggest is more likely

So far, the Spurs one seems to be the most reasonable to be done without FRPs (or at least only 1 swap). But I don't see them being interested in any swap the next 5 years, right?

 

Excuses for this team ran out in March of last year.

 

do the L's count less?

 

It's only been 3 or 4 games for everyone, but no team has jumped off the screen to me. Blazers are 4-0 but we all now they'll drop off and be the .500ish team they've been with Dame for like 6 years. Bucks, Warriors and C Bags look good but not spectacular. Nuggets have been a little disappointing and the Clippers are going to sleepwalk through the regular season. Again, it's an incredibly small sample size but no one has blown me away.

I honestly believe that this team with Hield/Turner instead of Russ can compete with anyone. We're already playing well defensively, imagine adding Turner and giving Ham that second rim protector that he had with Giannis/Lopez in Milwaukee. Slot everyone up a position and I really think we can be a Top 10 defense all season. A Top 10 defense + LeBron/AD + better shooting in the form of replacing Russ with Hield and guys' percentages creeping back up toward the low 30s, I think that amounts to a 50 win team.