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

maybe hope indy starts losing

 

Lol..Rondo and Avery are still available...Melo too

 

Yeah..won't be as big of a joke in a couple of weeks tho bud.

 

I think we should keep Russ and flip Nunn, Bev plus a pick or two. This team is competing and I don’t see how we get better by trading Russ at this point.

Regardless of what happened last year, the guy is balling right now.

 

Still think he needs to go, but it's not as urgent as it was 5 weeks ago since he's embraced his new role. He will get in his way again. For every great game he has like this, he'll have 2-3 more in coming weeks where you will want to strangle him and he might even cost us some wins. End of the day, he's still a very expensive square peg trying to fit in Rob's round hole roster.

We need to get better yesterday and if we can give this team the best chance of winning this year, I'm moving Russ and the draft compensation for whatever that is.

I think we will probably move Bev, Nunn, and maybe a pick for something this month and they'll see how that looks. Then as the deadline gets closer, if something is out there, they will see what Russ can fetch them.

My vision isn't lined up with the front office though because A) I put more value in today than those two picks. B) I am actually looking for longer contracts in Russ trades (as long as the talent is there) and not running from them because I'm f***ing tired of the vet min mercenary route. We need middle tier talent that can develop chemistry over multiple years with this team.

theoretically, I think we can net more talent by splitting the picks based on what is still out there for us. Takes good negotiating and a fair trade partner, but it could be an option.

One benefit to splitting the picks between two separate deals spaced out time wise that I hadn't thought about until the Kam bros brought it up on their pod: it let's you play a game of chicken with the other teams. They're asking for both picks, because we have both picks. If we only have one pick, we can only offer one pick. Are they really willing to walk away from the deal over that? Will the be more open to other alternatives? Taking back a couple 2nds or sending us back a less favorable contract to balance the deal?

 

I agree. I'm not an analytics expert, but having AD or LB draw the double team and passing it out to an open DD for a two-pointer instead of a three-pointer is probably a bad strategy. DD would have to 60% of those to equal 40% of three-pointers, lie from a Buddy Hield for example. I'm not sure what DD's mid-range numbers are though, I know he's pretty damn good at it though. With that being said, I dont like the fit man. DD is better suite in the Lebron/AD spot. It could be WB part 2 (but not as bad). Who wants that?

 

Westbrook has to go.

We got lucky last night as Ham was reluctant to take RW out of the game and instead took Walker out, oddly enough after Lonnie had just broken up a pass play. They fouled him and he missed both free throws and we are lucky they missed their 3 attempt after words (he was wide open).

Look, I like his energy (he dove for a ball late last night) and of course we all know he is still extremely athletic (had many breaks to the basket) and can pass really well when he wants to (last night was his 6th time with double digit assists), but that simply doesn't make up for the horrid defense, horrible shooting and his half dozen or so brainfarts during a game.

Trading for Derozan would be another bonehead move. Why it takes everyone so long to realize that we need outside shooting and better perimeter defense (size on the wings) is anyone's guess. DeMarr isnt either of those...

 

why does it take so long for everyone to realize that the mythical wing player we need isn't available to us?

 

Can’t wait …. have to catch on time shift later today. But followed box score and in and out of Game Time. Sounded and had to have been amazing. My unprofessional opinion is they must have Nutted Up

 

Unfortunately, we really don’t have any choice but to trade Russ. I know it stinks now that Ham has figured out his role and he’s actually helping us win games, but you can’t just let a $47 million contract expire and get nothing in return for that. You just can’t. It would be total malpractice, which is why I’m now convinced Pelinka will let it happen.

 

Yeah, mismanaging assets has been Rob’s M.O.

 

Yeah. Nothing has changed for me as far as doing deals.

if anything I think the front office should be more convinced that we shouldn’t punt the season and that AD can lead us to playoff success.

 

Except …. it may come down to the win now aspect and in spite of the overwhelming opinion of the site here, Ham may have a big say in whether he stays or goes ….. especially if we do a smaller deal first and the team is doing well with him being a super sub off the bench. I have a sneaking suspicion Darvin ripped Russ and whoever else (LeBron) that needed it about the turnovers and dumb play that cost us the Indiana game. Witness the lack of them last night against the best defensive team in the league currently. And keeps on him for the defensive lapses. Still time to evaluate in that case. Darvin put a lot of his heart into reaching and motivating the guy to realize what was best for himself and the team at the same time. Plus that massive salary coming off our books.

Not rooting for it myself IF we can bring in better fitting and also impactful players less prone to the types of ways Russ often hurts the team at the worst times.

 

rather let russ expire than do the deals presented so far. everybody trying to take 1sts from us. think of letting russ expire as gaining two future 1sts!

i could easily see us trading bev/nunn for a 20-25 million haul that goes past next season, re-signing russ at a huge discount, and then having the full mle to play with on the FA market.

meanwhile, we'll have all of our picks and more movable contracts should something really good arise.

 

Derozan might be worse than this version of Westbrook for us. Mainly because of the playmaking difference. He won’t have the ball in his hands much and he’ll be scoring mainly on midrange pull-ups off the dribble with a packed paint. Just not a recipe for success. Unless he came off the bench as a 25 min player. I’d rather Bogdanovic or Turner.