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

Some of you cats just need to stop beating around the bush and just say it.

" I don't think Lebron and AD will ever be healthy again. or top 5 players if healthy ".

There now I can respect that take, if that's how you feel. Because from I sit..there isn't any way in hell, a healthy Lebron and AD are not at a minimum top 4 in the West. With the lack of "spacing " " no shooters ", "vet minimum scrub roster" " no big wings" "Russell Westbrook ".etc..etc.. All that and whatever else you got.

Blah,blah,blah. The season starts in 2 weeks!! I'll be here everyday. Scratch that...top 3 in the West!! As currently frigging constructed! Bout as blunt as I can make it. My flag is firmly planted on top of this hill, and my cannons are pointed down at you. Come and get me!! LOL

 

Heres an argument you like using, what exactly has he won? A bunch of individual accolades and 0 championships.

Lakers have won 3 rings during his career… but apparently playoffs > championships

 

Same thing could be said about Anthony Davis right? Or KD before he went to Golden State. Hell I think AD had only made the playoffs twice. If you want to call it on chips alone, most of the League is irrelevant correct? A few franchises shouldn't even be fielding teams.
I mean clarify yourself here, because continuing on that take, what's the point of trading for Hield and Turner?

 

They're not top 5. How many players have played at age 40? Much less stayed healthy at age 40. Bron is a one of one, no doubting that, but even Vegas is going to look at you funny with that bet. IF he can stay healthy, it's thanks to good load management from Ham and no freak injuries. But even then, that means that he will be sitting.

Bubble AD was neck and neck with Greek Freak. We haven't seen that from him since. A variety of reasons have factored in -- lost some hunger, put on weight, multiple injuries, exhausted after a couple seasons without a real break.

I don't think a 40 year old Bron is better than Giannis, Curry, Luka, Joker, Durant, or Embiid. Nor should he be.

AD has to reclaim his spot. Currently I would not have him ranked over the above or Tatum, Ja, Book, KAT, Beard (yuck!), Kawhi, Jimmy Butler.

He's in a battle for 15th with PG, Beal, Trae, Dame, and (statistically) Gobert.

There's a lot of show me he has to do before he deserves to be back in that top 10 conversation.

Also AD is another guy who Ham is going to monitor minutes and game load.

Depth matters. Bron isn't the same Bron that beat GS by himself. Kobe and prime Shaq even had and needed depth to win. You can look at it through whatever kind of glasses you want, but our 4th-12th man is not up to the level of teams who are serious about winning. Just look at the rosters of the top handful of teams in the league over the past decade (basketball reference is a good site) and you will see one thing is not like the others.

The answer is not to put even more on Bron's shoulders.

 

I’m not talking about AD or KD or the rest of the league. I’m just pointing out where you’re wrong about Westbrook’s winnings compared to Lakers’

 

Top 3.

 

Well cutting to the chase James isn't top 5 anymore..what makes those other guys better than him? Giannis is the best player in the game. Curry, Durant, Embiid, Jokic, Luka...why are they better than Lebron right now? Based on what criteria?

AD is in a battle for 15th..check..you stated your position. I disagree so we shall see shortly.

 

Top 3 in the West as currently constructed. Meant all that...I will be right or wrong, but I ain't backing down an inch.

 

Top 3 by end of season, right?

 

You are absolutely right...I was inaccurate on that one. What I should have said, was the last 12 years. The Lakers ruled the league when Westbrook was a rookie.

 

Yep..Top 3 going into the playoffs. If one of them gets injured, all bets are off of course. Other than that top 3 in the West..yes sir.

 

Won't happen.

If it does, expect this roster to be modified.

By the way, hope it does, but it won't as currently constructed.

 

We have 82 games to sort it out. If we finish 4th or 5th I was wrong. I'll own up to it. I said currently constructed, because I truly believe that James and Davis are a special duo, and that Westbrook is going to ball out complimenting those two. I won't rule out a minor trade, but I'm not afraid of sticking with the bulk of what we already have.

 

If we finish 4th or better, I'll be ecstatic.

Top 4 gives us first round home court in the PO's.

 

Ha..it's not about Russ though Cookie, he's a supporting actor in this Blockbuster.

 

I wish he was just a stand-in.

 

Thing is: in 2024 we will have a better understanding of picks available and may have 4 to give, post LeBron. If we do this trade, we can only trade picks past 2031. That's huge, too many years man.

I understand the point "we will suck post LeBron because of Jeannie" and may very well be true but I would rather not mortgage our chances right out of the gate for the next decade

 

No doubt about it..he gotta earn that bread this season for my prediction to be fulfilled Cookie, but Lebron and AD are still superior players IMO, I can't knock Russ for getting paid though.