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

AD's at 23/11/2blk/1.5stl on 53% shooting
embiid, for example, is at 28/10/1blk/.5stl on 56% shooting

both are shooting 25% from three, both are poor on advanced stats (though embiid is poorer).

is embiid only "good"?

AD's been fine. not as good as i want, but not that far off, either. least of our problems.

 

Paul George is a good player, Siakim is a good player.

 

It's not just the stats..he disappears a lot in the 2nd half. He's MVP caliber with his 1st half stats. I prefer my franchise player to play better in the 2nd half. When teams make their run and the pressure is increased.

 

Has his 2nd half production been the same as AD?

 

Get your role players going in the 1st half, then your stars ramp it up in the 2nd half and 4th quarter. Our stars get theirs in the 1st half, and when they fade in the 2nd, the role players aren't picking up the slack lol.

 

I’ve only been casually been watching games so I’m not sure, but are teams more heavily focusing on AD (weezy posted an image showing all 5 defenders surrounding him and ignoring the perimeter shooters) in the second half of games? Or is he dealing with this all game, but mysteriously finding success early?

 

paul george is a superstar and siakam is an all-star caliber player

a "good" player is someone like marcus morris or harrison barnes

 

Paul George is not a superstar, that would be Kawhi. He and Siakim are both good players, not superstars. The superstar list should always small IMO. The NBA is the best basketball players in the World.

 

“Top three team in the West.”

 

Don't agree. Then what's Reaves? Caruso? Or Barnes? Monk?
Agree that superstar should be a small list

 

opposite 3 right? lol

 

Your points are just weak to me. Over a season they spend 3 months extra in LA and get to enjoy the weather there better? The other 3 months of the season they’re on the road and for 6 months of the year they live wherever they want.

No one cares what celebrities are in LA if it’s a crap situation.

And you ignoring state taxes is just naive. I work in that field and wealthy people are constantly trying to minimise their tax. As an example 13% in Cali vs 0% in Dallas. That’s about 7m on a max contract and null and voids all the local endorsements LA “might” have over other destinations.

At the end of the day we should be enticing people with a best in class organisation, that’s built well, run well and has the best infrastructure. That’s what players really care about.

 

i'm not as strident as alcindor on this, svtzr, but again: nobody signs in dallas. period. dallas had dirk nowitzki and the cap space to get paul and howard in their primes, and they said no. everyone always says no.

your general point is right: you can't just rely on history/geography.
but you're not right that la isn't THE glamor destination in the nba (i'd put miami a close second).

i think you're minimizing the lifestyle angle, too. it's pretty obvious that living there all year has some allure. these people have families, friends, etc. it's why lebron isn't demanding a trade out despite us looking likely to finish 13th in the west this year.

 

I haven’t really noticed that extreme level of defensive focus on AD until the second half of the Kings games. I wouldn’t say that he deals with those types of double/triple teams on a regular basis.

To me his second half struggles seem to be from a lack of assertiveness, which probably is physical as much as mental. Been moments where by the end of the game he looks to be struggling just to get up and down the court. Not sure if that’s the back injury, not being in great shape, getting worn down by playing the 5 and being so heavily depended upon defensively, or a combination of all the above.

And then the mental part, I’ve always found AD too deferential to Lebron. He’s willing to sit back and let Lebron run the show later in games rather then demanding the ball. And with Lebron (and the team) struggling this season, Lebron’s been getting more aggressive looking for his own shot in the second half. Cynically, probably so he can pad his stats and chase the scoring record.

 

AD to Chicago for LaVine makes sense. LaVine is 6-5 and 200 pounds. He is a 27-year old dynamic guard that could shoot the three at high volume and percentage. Lakers may even be able to pry other assets from Chicago and/or dump unwanted contracts. I do this trade not with the intention of winning now, but building for the future. I say that, because LaVine is not eligible to be traded until January 15th. Our season may be long gone by then. With that being said, LaVine could help the Lakers actually win some games.

 

I wasn’t trying to say they would sign in Dallas, I just meant the state of Texas has 0% state tax. Same as Florida, where Miami benefits from this too. However it’s still a better point than we have celebrities.

And I never said LA wasn’t a premier location, but relying on things like weather, celebrities etc will get you the same results it did prior to Lebron coming here - no interest. The proof is in our results from that time.

We should build a successful team, a great front office and have the best playing and practice infrastructure.

 

Why would you want to trade our DPOY caliber big who can average 25 a night for another SG? Lavine might be even more injury prone than AD…

 

Yeah it’s a pass from me on Kyrie…

 

What you don't care to admit or realize is that a 13% hike is worth it to not have to live in Texas to players who are not into cowboy hats, bola ties and racism. Shoe companies pay far more than a 13% hike to their players in areas like LA and NYC than say, Dallas, because their sales are far greater when their endorsers live there. Did you know that? Their contracts are incentive provided for where they Iive. You are again using misdirection and using "hey, look over here" tactics to prove a non-point. Hey man, be happy living where you are, and stop being jealous of LA, you are quite obvious. If you don't like LA so much go get another team.