2025-26 Team Developments: Trades / Free Agents / News / Rumors / Ideas

The Closers

 

Well DUH then to this team. Why don’t we just lead more after the 3rd quarter …. easy peasy?

 

Yeah, that's the ticket!!

 

have you considered...being ahead more often?

 

Do you realize how much Ainge HATES the Lakers? He will make a lopsided trade in the other team’s favor just so he doesn’t have to trade Kessler to the Franchise he despises the most.

 

Counterpoint, he did the Russ trade with us for just one FRP after we'd heard for weeks that it would take at least an FRP just to take on Russ's expiring. If he thinks he's getting the better of us (like he did when we traded him the 2027 FRP), he'd do it.

But that said, I don't think Kessler happens for us because I think they'll move Lauri if it comes to it. It doesn't make any sense to trade for JJJ and then let Kessler go, Kessler is exactly the type of 5 that JJJ needs to play with. Lauri is going to be the odd man out IMO.

 

tanking is taking a new turn

 

Muscala.

 

I like this.if you’re caught tanking you lose your first round pick the year you tanked.

just like in the NFL Vikings missed their draft pick and didn’t turn in their draft card. You just have the team behind you pick where you are.

and you go to the second round.

 

That lie. b*******. $500,000 will make you do that.

 

How do you get “caught” tanking?

 

Silver has allowed tanking ever since he took over.
He could easily have stopped it years ago.
He’s a part of the problem.

 

i don't see easy tanking solutions. there was that "wheel" idea a while back that was interesting.

lately, i keep seeing the "remove protections" thing, but that could make picks very hard to move and thus depress player movement. probably a ton of draft day trades, though.

 

Yeah, whatever, in this case, let the Jazz tank. I don't want OKC with another high first round pick!

 

never really understood the highsmith hype. i think of him like slick thinks of keon ellis, lol.

plus, he's ex-heat, so i'm way out.

 

What about when we get to this part of the season after the trade deadline, the NBA has an official Dr or set of Drs examine each player that “needs to be shut down” for more than 5 games?
We see this every single year. As soon as the bad teams realize they have no chance, their best players come up with these mysterious “injuries” and need to be shut down for the rest of the season. Why not call their bluff?
Get caught once, your first apron tax line gets lowered by $30 mill the next season.
Get caught a second time, your apron gets lowered by $60 million.
I guarantee this would stop them from sitting players who otherwise could play.
This is a dishonest loser mentality that shouldn’t have any place in any sport.

 

just make the draft lottery percentages the same for all teams that didn't make the playoffs, and no one will have much incentive to tank anymore.

 

They will still "save" their stars. League became soft, from Silver, to owners, to players. I watch like 20-30 games a season max (years ago, i used to watch all Lakers games plus at least 40-50 marquee matchups). Now, i wouldn't waste my time, even if i was getting paid to watch it.