+ we do have the option to go absolutely giant With TB, AD, Rui, Reaves and LBJ @ PG (I think Ham's head would explode @ the mere concept though). Likewise we now have more small-ball lineups as Rui slots in from 3 to the 1. Or imagine a bench with TB and Rui, 2 bigs knocking down 3s leaving the rim wide open for penetrators like Russ, Schroder, Reaves, Walker, Brown, Christie. So Rob made his "cheap" move. I have to say I'm impressed with it. The need for Bojan goes down, but I still hope Rob is planning a big move here shortly. This team could still use an injection of a few powerful role players.
We just traded for him and yes, I'm sipping the kool-aid... I think he's gonna be pretty damn good when it's all said and done. Has the frame and all the tools to succeed in this league. He has to improve overall as a player, and that could be a slow process. I actually think there's a good chance he improves a lot, slow or not. Apparently he was a sponge around Westbrook, I think he stands to learn a lot around players like LeBron and even Beverly. Head up I'm taking LeBron-Rui over PG-Kawhi by playoff time
I don't know why ESPN is giving us a C grade for this trade. We gave up Nunn who is basically a non-factor, amongst a plethora of small guards we have and 3 2nd round picks. Yes, you can make the argument that 2nd round picks are uniquely valuable to us based off of our strong scouting department, but 1 of the 3 picks is a swap, another is in 2029, which is so far in the future, who knows what's going to happen and we still have 4 left. Plus, we can always just go the Reaves route and convince players to go undrafted so we can swoop them up after.
Reportedly, this was due to his injuries. He has played 48 in '19-'20 (shortened pandemic season), 57 in '20-'21 (shortened pandemic season), 42 in '21-'22, and he has missed 16 games this year so far. That's by far the biggest negative on him I've seen.
We desperately needed another shot creator who can go get his. Having this come from someone with size who can also hit the 3 and has the physical profile to become good defended with the right lineups, guidance, and coaching up is a big acquisition.
when i read that hachimura wanted out, i thought about how to get him, but i didn't think he'd be available for nunn and 2nds, so i just let it go. as the buha article implies, there's just no downside here. it's not like we'll really notice those 2nds, even if this doesn't work out. nunn really wasn't giving us much at all, and he was our least useful guard in a crowded lineup of guards. for washington, i get prioritizing kuz. he's been better than hachimura overall. and then avidja is their more recent lotto pick, who has shown promise and still has another year or two before contract decision time. so yeah, hachimura probably needed to go. imo, they should have prioritized a similarly intriguing player at a different position rather than second rounders, but maybe they see nunn that way. i don't, but that could just be sour grapes over his injury and slow start this year. anyway, i prefer this to bev/nunn/unprotected 1st for bogdanovic.
I'm not so sure that we are done, kicking the tires on Bogdonavic, it might cost Walker though, but we will see. Detroit is horrible and Bogdonavic is balling this season. If they can't get a FRP, a promising young player could work.
Any non Laker hater who knows anything about our stellar three and even four guard lineups has to give this an A- at worst. If Kuz can be taught how to play decent D, then so can Rui. His long ball will recover- just wait and see. Great job by Rob on this one.
Because they are slotting him in at the 4 and with TB's heightened play and AD's expectancy back on the 4 as well as Gabriel's decent production there they don't consider it a "position of need" but the plan is to use Rui at the 3, especially all the big 3s in the league, Kawhi, PG, Butler, Tatum, and on and on....get the boy to find some defense in his heart. Ham can do it. Rui is the type to put his head down and go to work, fek offensive numbers. I like the move, just crossing fingers on the health issue.
Another aspect of this trade that I love is that Rui played with Westbrook, Bryant, and Brown before, so he’s familiar with their predilections in the way they play. It’ll help him get acclimated to the team faster if he knows what some of his teammates might do on a play. But I gotta say, I was looking forward to a frontcourt of AD+Bryant starting. If the rumors are true, and Rui is expected to start soon, I at least hope AD and Bryant get some significant run together each game. Bryant has earned the minutes.
