2024-25 Team Developments: Trades / Free Agents / News / Rumors / Ideas

I like Ben Simmons’ skillset when he is healthy and playing freely. Not sure that player exists anymore but I’d take a swing for the minimum.

I’d like to take a look at Lonzo too. I wonder if the Bulls would be open to swapping him for Kleber’s expiring and a second or something? Would be great if he had a later career resurgence. The last time he was healthy he was an excellent defender and shooter. Not sure if he’ll ever be healthy again though.

Definitely interested in a solid center that can add a lob threat and some interior defence.

I feel we have a pretty solid team at the moment jsut have to be smart at the margins.

 

small ball 5 with back issues seems like a rough combo

for some reason I think he'd struggle to stay healthy

 

Laker fans adjusting to having a good defense

 

yeah, much like last year, i'm not holding my breath on the large lebron paycut. now, this year it wouldn't have to be as big, but still sizable.

again, we're committed to 189 with 11 players under contract. the first apron is expected to be about 195, and the ntpmle is going to be about 14.

add our two minimum cap holds, and we're at what, 193? so lebron has to take a 12 million dollar paycut (he's basically paying the mle) AND we're hardcapped at 195 after that. that MLE player better be great.

i think it's safer to operate over the first apron with wiggle room under the second one, tbh.

my opinions may change after the playoffs, of course.

 

NAW is solidly above average as a defender and has shot 38%, 39% and 40% from three the last three years including this year. I think he could end up getting more than the MLE from someone.

 

I’d rather address a position of greater need

 

Well center is the only position I see as a greater need, and if we were to have the full MLE I don't see great center options at that price. Maybe Capela? He's 31 and his been trending down for a little while need. If you told me we could have either player, I'd take NAW. I think an upgrade at center would have to come via trade.

 

Is there a way to stagger the minutes in the playoffs where 2 of Luka/Lebron/AR are always on the court without AR coming off the bench?

That's underrated aspect of this big 3 is that the offensive firepower is going to be difficult for teams to handle over a course of a full game. When teams go to their bench they have to survive for example a Lebron/AR pair that has been destroying teams starters with Luka resting - that seems frankly insane.

Denver typically sucks with Jokic on the bench but on top of their offense stalling you can't really have bad defenders out there as example

 

This may be our greatest strength. When playoff time comes around we consistently have 2 high level playmakers and scorers on the floor at all times. Or at the very least you have at least one of Lebron or Luka in to control the offense. How do you defend that over a 7 game series?

 

According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Joel Embid can undergo a meniscus replacement surgery or an operation in which doctors break the bone in the thigh to align the joint and relieve pressure.

The same Sixer who made “orbital bone fracture” and “navicular bone fracture” common phrases in Philadelphia sports lexicon — he’s had two of each — might soon add one of these: meniscus replacement; low-dose radiation therapy; or even the ominous-sounding osteotomy, in which doctors break a bone in the hip to realign the joint to alleviate pressure. One source called the procedures “radical” in light of the mundane injury and surgery that brought Embiid to this point. For some reason, what should have been a routine rehab and a routine return to play has gone horribly wrong.
Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer


So maybe he knew all time and agreed to play in Olympics

 

really big people who are agile put abnormal strain on their bodies. is what it is. embiid will either adapt his game in ways that make him less effective (but potentially still effective) or not be able to play. same with zion. same with AD (who's already made some of that transition, imo).

 

Give our man a key to the city of LA

 

Totally agree. I posted this previously in the AR thread:

 

We love Nico

 

dallas is going to be scary when all their bigs are healthy

 

Do we vote for Rob or Nico as our exec of the year?

 

It’s a tie tbh

 

Agreed, they’ve got lots of good defenders on that team too.

Kyrie/Dinwiddie
Christie/Exum
Klay/Marshall
AD/PJ
Lively/Gafford

I’ve got them top 6 in the west and better than Houston, Timberwolves and the Grizzlies in the playoffs.