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

yeah, i'd hate it going into the owners' pockets, though (i realize my plan would do that, too). i do think the players need to pay some price for circumventing free agency. they did a good job closing the sign and trade loopholes that really kept things unbalanced; maybe there's a similar solution here.

edit: though i'm not super eager on these things because i think it's one of the last advantages we have (stars want to come here).

 

I can't imagine Russ accepting being a 2nd or 3rd option behind Mann and Bones. In his head he is better than those guys, he's a HoF and they are nobodies.

I would be extremely surprised if he played a role behind them with a smile. We shall see.

If he's a 25/30 minutes guy, Clippers are screwed

Well, having PG and Kawhi as your wing defenders certainly help hiding some of his defensive inefficiencies

 

F the Clippers but those guys are loaded. I guess we'll see how the Westbrook experience is working out for them, when we play them in April. Mann can score but Bones is a nobody, Russ is going to get plenty of burn.

Meanwhile...we have an important 10 game stretch coming up against...Golden State(twice), Memphis (twice), Dallas, OKC, Minn, NY, Toronto and New Orleans. We need to start stringing together some wins ASAP.

 

Kobe was probably the only big time player, that I can think of, that wanted to be moved and wasn't. It's the NBA, if these guys want out, they will get their wish. I don't have a problem with it, that's how we got AD.

 

Lol the Clippers really just Clipper'ed themselves in the most epic fashion. The deadline trades that they made will now be negated thanks to Russ.

He further complicates an already crowded backcourt...and he forces a pretty damn good fit in Mann to the bench.

It's insane that they're going to START him. He's quite literally the worst starting PG in the league...literally nobody else would start him!!! Not even WE started him....

Clippers must have an INSAAAAANE ego problem to think that they can make Russ work and then stick it to us in the process...the dude shouldn't be starting for anybody.

Less Bones, Less EG, Less Mann, and Less Powell vs MORE Russ? Jesus christ man...did we trade front offices at the trade deadline?

 

Meh..We have our own problems to worry about. It will be interesting to see how everyone feels about this Westbrook subject by April 5th.

 

Bones COUdlnt get along w j Murray n cried about playing time ..... ... Gordon is ehh.... Mann is also ehh.. can't wait to see Russ wave off kiwi and pg n prolly fight bones n Mann

 

they're gonna start russ? oh boy. so mann (who has been playing well for them) and hyland (who they just traded for) will see their playing time reduced for russ? ouch

and yes, we all know russ will drop 25-11-15 in the 4/5 matchup against the lakers

 

Lebron will guard russ, he can relax on defense and dare him to shoot

 

Well they say he won’t start “right away”. Make of that what we will. Maybe never once they get an up close and personal look …. especially him on off ball D?

 

if he decides to play team defense there, i swear to all that's holy...

 

Yep as mentioned can blame it all on Vogel, Ham and Lakers organization.

 

I imagine they’ll try something a bit more creative to dissuade players from asking for a trade while under contract.

Maybe something like a wage reduction. As an example if you ask out in any year during a 5 year super max:

Year 1: 50% wage reduction for the remainder of your contract
Year 2: 40% wage reduction for the remainder
Year 3: 30% wage reduction for the remainder
Year 4: 20% wage reduction for the remainder

However your contract still carries the full cap hold for the team that trades for you. So there is no benefit to the team trading for you and only a negative to the player that wants out.

It’s a punishment to wanting to leave. Not sure the players would go for it, but they’ll have to meet somewhere in the middle I assume since they’re getting so much money.

 

yeah, i just think that teams will want ways out of max deals, too, and it's hard to make a rule that cracks down on demands and doesn't have the unintended consequence of making amicable divorces more difficult.

 

That's what happens when you have journalists on the payroll.

 

It's funny cuz Doug says he doesn't like the westbrook move but then he says he likes the deadline moves but he doesn't realize that those deadline moves directly conflict with Russ move. Really funny to hear him contradict himself.