2026-27 Team Developments: Trades / Free Agents / News / Rumors / Ideas

Yeah, I like that we seemed to make a conscious effort to acquire defensive-minded players that also have some offensive skill. The lineup we started the season with last season that had Luka/Reaves/Rui/Lebron/Ayton was just awful. Crazy that not a lot of folks were really calling this out. They were afraid to hurt Rui's feelings by having him come off the bench? No coincidence that things started clicking a lot better when Smart was inserted into the starting unit. Lakers seemed to kind of build on that mentality, though Smart was ironically not part of the plans, I mean it was probably his decision. But we got adequate replacements for him, and a lot more depth at point-of-attack. I don't know what they were thinking by having Luka literally at the one on defense, or having Reaves guard the ones. Also, the two power forwards and the low motor center who isn't known for defense. And a lot of folks seemed to be fine with it.

 

Klay is under contract around 17.5 millions, so it's only trade if anyone available or Dallas should buy him out
I don't know if this possible with Dallas after infamous AD for Luka trade lol

 

f*** Klay Thompson. Im glad he signed with Dallas, we dodged a bullet that year. Do not want!

 

Everyone is entitled to freely speak their opinion and I respect yours. My eye test tells me the opposite but differing views are what makes this place so much fun. I fully expect for us to win the championship and most think I'm an idiot but that is cool. IMO, AR is not only a solid 2nd option but borderlining being a number one. I have seen no video or stats to make me hesitate in the slightest.

 

I know this isn't likely but I would not mind having this kind of veteran leadership to help guide the youngsters. Always loved Klay's game.

 

behind.

luka is the same.
that version of kyrie and reaves are mostly a wash

as we discussed a few pages back, i think that version of lively was probably a little better than kessler. more importantly, lively/gafford gave them 48 minutes of really good center play.

and then washington and djj were the really big differences, imo. not so much talent as fit. djj could guard the quick perimeter guys, and washington could take either forward position (and even play some fives and some guards!). we have a pj-washington-sized hole, and while grimes may be a better overall player than djj, the fit isn't as ideal.

the benches outside of gafford are similar to me.

now, if ziaire williams were to make a djj-esque leap, we'd be a lot closer. in the future (possibly as soon as next year), carr could maybe slot into that djj role.

anyway, this is why i keep holding out hope for kuminga or pj washington or <insert large athletic forward here>

 

i mean, a LOT of time has passed since then. he was one of the worst defenders in the league the last couple years, and he's not the offensive player he was, either. we have no role for him, really.

 

I think when they went on the run with Luka going nuts to make a case for MVP it mask the team. It was said LeBron finally sacrificed. I don't think that was a sustainable brand of basketball.

 

• A few player in the nba we'll need to adjust their game. Luka and Austin were in the top ten.
• 
  
  
• https://bleacherreport.com/articles...dress-flopping-amid-criticism-during-playoffs

 

I agree with you that Mavs team highlight apart from Luka was their front court.

Luka is better now, though. He looks in much better shape these days, and will probably play with a chip on his shoulder due to missing these last playoffs.

I think with the way he ended last season, Luka is ready to take another step up and become the best player in the league this year.

I hope Rob can make that trade for a PF, but even with a PJ-type our rotation will still be very thin. Mamu was horrible in his last playoff series, and we can't rely on Looney to be a legit rotation piece.

 

Kyrie Irving holds a career NBA playoff record of 63 wins and 33 losses across 96 total postseason games.

 

If nothing changes they will play small ball.

 

I like that.

 

I don’t want Luka Doncic to be the best player in the western conference. I want Luka Doncic to be an NBA champion.

I don’t need to see Luka average 40 been there done that.

I want a championship. It’s up to him to pace himself so when the playoffs start he’s healthy.

that’s what matters. So let’s get that clear. All that 38 minutes a game. Being hard on the hamstrings. And calves and soft tissues.

Just take it easy and get there. We’ll have the last laugh with an O’ Brien.

 

lol, the disrespect. if they actually cracked down on flopping, luka would be totally fine. it's SGA who should be shaking in his boots were the nba to actually start caring.

 

If both players stop flopping both players will be fine. Luka is a volume shooter and Shai has enough Athletic ability to adjust. Luka lead the league in ft per game and his complaining after every play became Unbearable. Of the 3 players Austin will have the least adjusting. While his game seeks for drawing foul {foul baiting} he is not acting in most cases. He pulls up and they bump him. Luka on the other hand leans into defenders when he is not fading away. This kind of play the offensive player creates the contact invading the defenders space. .

 

Your insistence in calling Luka and AR "floppers" shows how much you exaggerate that talking point. There's drawing fouls and subtle ways to do it without being consistently and egregiously cheating with it where you look like an idiot in slow motion. And there's outright flopping to floor, where the term "flopping" came from. Show me the video compilations with Luka and AR dropping to the floor like are all over the internet with SGA now and LeBron in the past.

The term "flopping" originates from players "flopping" or collapsing to the floor to fake contact, a tactic popularized by Boston C Bags guard Frank Ramsey in the 1950s and 1960s, who even wrote a 1963 Sports Illustrated article titled "Why I Fall" detailing his masterclass in deception. [1, 2, 3]

History and Evolution of the Tactic

• Early Pioneers: Boston C Bags sixth-man Frank Ramsey is widely credited as the original "master of deception" for intentionally hitting the deck to draw charges. [1, 2, 3]
• The 1970s and 80s: Coaches like Red Auerbach railed against "Hollywood acting", while physical players like Bill Laimbeer and Danny Ainge refined the art of exaggerating contact. [1, 2]
• Popularization of the Word: The actual noun/verb "flop" gained widespread media and fan currency in the late 1980s and 1990s, famously utilized by players like Vlade Divac and Reggie Miller. [1, 2]
• Official Crackdown: The National Basketball Association officially instituted anti-flopping fines and rules starting ahead of the 2012–13 regular season to penalize theatrical embellishments. [1, 2]

 

i said foul baiting you use flopping. i said AR own is more the the defender bumping into him as he stops in front of them and pull up. Luka on the other hand leans into the defender. This can be a none call to an offensive foul easy.

 

Lol

Speaking of FT